The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1904-11-10
Has the BEST Methods.

Oneida seems to have developed most
interest in good roads and the best
methods Of getting and maintaining
the same. Just how many of Oneidas
inhabitants have attained TO this high
stage Of civilization we do not know.
but certainly enough of them have
done so to form good roads league
which not only takes energetic part
In the practical work Of scientific high
way improvement. but also gives wide
distribution to well prepared ''litera-
ture" on the subject. urging other
people to wake up in their own inter-
tests. to abandon the old and bar
barous plan OF wasting inexpert labor
on bad roads, and, taking advantage
of the Higble- Armstrong act, to pay
their taxes in money, secure the aid |
offered by the State, and to become |
rich and happy after the example OF
Oneida County. Besides an elaborate |
report on its own operations the league |
is now sending out the recommends !
tions of the standing committee ap- !
pointed at the last convention Of the
Highway Supervisors convention. This
is a really able document, containing
many excellent suggestions, and well
calculated to convince all readers, as
ii says. that the improvement Of our
State highways is not fad in the IN
terest Of the users Of light vehicles. but
question Of the greatest commercial
Importance, affecting the transporta-
tion Of the farm products Of the State,
and Of as much importance to the In
the cheapening of transportation on
railroads controlled by corporations, or
terests of the State of New York as
the cheapening Of transportation on
the State canals. Especial attention is
deserved by the paragraphs devoted to
the rapidity with which narrow tires
on heavily loaded vehicles viii destroy
even the best of roads, TO the need Of
sign posts, and to the best ways of
raising money for creating a system Of
highways worthy of the Empire State.
The activities Of this Oneida County
Good Roads League are all highly COM
| mendable. 1t is beyond question that
money spent intelligently on roads
brings in a larger return to a greater
number Of people than almost any
other investment of public funds, and
is a form of taxation which ought to
be much more popular than II is.-New
York Times. rsgs,s A.s..
.,s.a aEsT4g
England and France.
Two hundred years ago England had
the worst roads in the world. because
the peasantry living on the roads alone
were required to work them. In speak
ing Of them, Macauley says, That q
route connecting two great towns
which have a large and fiourishins
trade with each other should be main
taincd at the cost of the rural popula
tion scattered between them is mani
festly unjust. 1t was not until man.
toll bars have been violently pulled
down. until the troops had In many
instances been forced to act agains
the people and until much blood haC
been shed that a good system had beer
introduced" Every class now con
: tributes to the maintenance Of the roat
, system in England.
The French have probably the mos
efficient laws and regulations in th'
world for the building and repairing
OF highways. The Minister of Public
2 Works has the general superintend
ence of all roads and ways by land ant
: by water. There are four classes o
roads recognized by law-namely 4
national. (2) department, (3) militar.
and (4) cross roads. National roads ar,
: built and kept up by the national treas
ury. Departmental roads are a chargl
upon the departments through whicl
/ they pass, and part of the militar,
roads are kept up by the governmen
and part by the departments through
which the roads pass.
The cross roads are kept up by th
e communes, though sometimes in thin
, ly populated regions these commune
receive assistance from the govern
ment especially when these roads be
= come of Importance
= The national roads are paved like
t street, having an average width 0
fifty-two and one-half feet. The dc
partmental roads are thirty-nine fee
, wide, and the military and cross road
, are of variable width Piles Of broker
= stone are placed at convnient distances
!. and a man is constantly employed il
repairing each section.
l. Farmers Like Oil-Covered Roads.