Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1904-06-30
THE LOCATION OF ROADS.
Something About the Advantages and
Defects of the Checker
Board" System.

In most parts of the west where
the public lands were surveyed and
laid off into sections, halves and quar-
tiers, the public roads have been estab-
lished on the section lines. Tines
roads consequently run either north
and south or east and west, crossing
at right angles. This method of To-
eating roads is sometimes called the
checker board SYSTEM" and the term
is quite appropriate. In some states
the road laws contemplate the estab-
fishing of a road on every section line,
SO they will be only one mile apart,
but not nearly all these roads have
been actually opened.
In comparison with the system, OF
lack of system, which prevails in the
older settled states of the east and
south, this checker board system mas
some advantages. The roads are not
left to be located at ~haphazard, or on
crooked farm boundaries, or according
to the whims or selfish interests OF the
~!ocators. The order and mathematical
regularity of the system naturally ap.
peals to the minds of those who READ
about these roads or study them on
maps, but to those who actually traVel
them their location appears to be very
far short of ideal perfection. In TACT
the system involves two very grave de-
fects. If a man wishes to travel d.
rectly north, south, east or west these
roads take him by the shortest posi-
BILE route. But a large majority OF the
people wish to travel in other dlrec-
lions. Let us suppose a man lives eX'
actly ten miles northwest from his
county seat. In order to reach it he
must travel seven miles east and
seven miles south, or IA miles in all.
Thus a large majority Of travellers SUI
fer a hardship in the matter OF dis
tance.
But the second defect in the system
is far greater. The mathematical pre-
cision with which these roads are To-
Gated carries them across hills ano
hollows without any regard to econ
omy in the matter of grades. mere
the country is perfectly level there
is no difficulty; where it is rolling the
roads can only be improved at a heavy
cost in making cuts and fills; where
there are steep hills and deep raV1nes
to cross the system is wholly imprac'
ticable.
Doubtless n of the first benefits
that will follow the adoption OF the
national aid plan will be the modifica'
ton of this system so as to remedy
these defects in a large measure. Nat
urally the first roads to be improved
in a county will be those leading dl'
rectly north, south, east and ives
from the county seat. Then mair
roads or avenues leading northeast
northwest, southeast and southwes
from the county seat should be opened
and improved. Thus the first defec
will be largely eliminated.
The second defect pointed out cal
only be cured by departing from TIT
section lines where the lay OF the roat
makes it economical to do so. Unde,
national and state aid competent en-
gineers will be employed to correct er
rors of location so as to increase tn
usefulness of the roads and at tn
same time reduce their cost,
The sentiment for national aid l
making great Roadway in this part o
the country. In Nebraska the legisla
ture has declared in favor of it. Sew
eral members of congress from Mis-
souri, are outspoken advocates of tn
plan. In Illinois a state commission
has been appointed to investigate ant
report on national aid. In a number o
other states definite action will prob
, ably be taken in the near future.