Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1905-12-09
ROAD MAINTENANCE.
ETERNAL VIGILANCE AN IMPORTANT
FACTOR IN IMPROVING HIGHWAYS.

NeElcctinR Them Causes Most of the
Troub ubIr-DutieT of Rond Commits
sioners-Best irc For Road Ma
chinc.-Where Shade Is Helpful
The late ]. q. Sanford. state highway
commissioner of Vermont, was insist
Cnt On the maintenance of the roads,
stys Good Roads Magazine. ami in one
of his last circulars to the local com
misSionCrS he said
The great roadmaSter John L. Mac
adam said. "A good road IS an artiti-
cial floor. forming Il strong. smooth,
solid surface, capable of carrying great
weight and over which carriages may
pass without impcdimcnt" In build
ing roads we strive to approximate
this ideal
y high authority on road matters re
Gently said, The time to begin road
repairs Is the day the road is finished"
II good roads are maintained there
must be eternal vigilance. Keeping
everlastIngIy ut it is the only way.
Roads deteriorate constantly and some
times rapidly when left alone 1t Is
neglcctlng the roads that causes most
Of the trouble. How seldom do we see
any one upon the roads doing small
work to prevent greater,
We should get away from the old no
ton. rather habit. OF working the roads
once year. We have repeatedly rec
ommcndcd that road commissioners ap-
n n rtg ,,Ft I,n
each to care for section of road and
doing the slight work which, If done Mt
the right time. saves the road and
keeps it good. The proposition has
been misunderstood some taking it to
mean that each appointed man was to
maintain and w \ his section Of road
In his own way. Not so. The road
commissioner Is the man of authority
throughout the town. and he should di-
rect road affairs in every pnrt of the
town Mt all times. AS he cannot be
everywhere present he should exercise
his will through others who will do his
bidding for the pay and cnCoura cement
they receive
Too much dependence is placed upon
the road machine in maintaining the
Old wornout roads. Often there is
more injury than benefit resulting from
its use, ana thee is Increasing com
plant from the public over the poor re
turns for the expense. Roads are be
coming narrow. the shoulders DESTROY
ed, deprcsSions made where water
stands to tester and destroy \ good
deal Is done with the machine that is
harmful. Its best use Is on the good
roads to keep them good. They should
frequently be lightly dressed over, al
ways when the road is wet 1t saves
lot of good material that is working
down into the bitches; il fills the ruts
and dcprcSSions and keeps the road in
good form The best time for shaping
earth roads with Il machine Is In the
spring. while the ground is paste and
easily worked. AS Il rule when the
earth has become settled hard and firm
the roads should not be broken up 1t
requires great force to do this in mid
summer, and when broken up they will
not be 50 well settled again that year.
the broken surface b,iNg dust or mu.l
according to the weather
The law requiring rold commissions
ers to remove loose stones from the
road once y month Is wrong No road
should he neglected for Il month. The
loose stones are Il nuisance and should
be removed rs often as they appear
Tight stores that project above the
road surface should be broken down to
the even surface with heavy hammers.
Mudholcs are too common and there
Is NJ excuse for their being They
come by growth, which should be pre-
vented. Sand roads are benefited by
shade to conserve moisture and keep
the road from drying out Roads of
other material need sunlight and mir to
dry the surface quickly. The borders
of Il road should be kept we'll trimmed,
and In doing this cleanliness and road
side beauty should be regarded There
Is value in our roadside attractions,
and beauty costs nothing 4 little care
and arrangement in what we do will
give pleasure to all who pass that way
Since the rural people are cultivatIng
moro of the aesthetic side of life and
others Of culture. refinement and
wealth are establishing their homes In
Vermont, road officials should at least
preserve the natural attractions and
| beauty of the road sides.