The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-03-16
How Can Our Public Highways
be Improved?

Written by DR.. VIM. Mclaughlin and read In
Harmony Grange Feb. Is, 1905
The subject of good roads appeals To
every person In our State. Its import
ance cannot be overestimated. Every
one, whether he walks or rides. for ousi"
ness or for pleasure, must have an inter-
eat 10 the quality or condition OF the
roads over which he has to pass Go
where We will, especially In all country
towns, the public highways are In
very bad condition, and some means or
measures should be obtained TO make
them in better, IL not in an excellent
condition for public travel.
The Legislature, two years ago, passed
al act that the State would pay one-half
the amount the towns would appropri-
ate for making permanent repairs on
State roads, so called and 80 made, Tor
any sum not exceeding $500. This law,
as far as 1t goes, Is good one, but the
State should do better and approprlai
at least $500 year to every town TO g
expended on the roads outside the cities
and larger villages, instead OF increasing
the salaries of State and county officers,
and sppropristing large sums TO numef-
Gus institutions 10 the State that are not
nearly as deserving as our highways Tor
public travel.
The question before US, at the present
time, regards more specially the means
at our hands and how to make the most
of them. The law contemplates the cleo
ton of road commissioner 10 every
town to look after and make repairs on
all roads, where they are needed. This
Is all very well IL the right man is elec'-
ed and II he understands how roads
should be made and attends to bis duties
when and where he ought TO. There Ia
large amount spent each year on the
roads which Is worse than wasted.
Many roads are allowed to become
washed In spring, or by heavy showers,
and thereby injuring the roads TO such
an extent that it requires large outlay
to repair the loss.
For the past thirty-five years | have
driven over the roads in this and adioin-
ing towns, night and day, summer and
winter, and have bad an opportunity OF
observing the roads In their worst and
10 their best condition. | have involun-
tarily and actually studied the question
of road building and road repairing, and
mstured plans for remedying the de-
fects, correcting the errors OF commits
sioners of the highways over which we
have to travel.
The duties of the road commissioners
should be to examine all roads 10 early
spring with suitable tools and turn tht
little rivulets out OF the road make n
deeper ditch here and a p4ssaReway for
the current there, and make all tempe
rary repairs that are imperatively needle
to render the roads decent and passable
until more permanent work can be done.
As soon as the road gets sufficiently DRY,
the road machine should be put into
operation where the roads are in most
need of repairs and the most travel oc-
cure. Instead Of cutting of the shout
ders of the road and skimmiDg up some
old ditch dirt, he should leave the Shout
ders, make the bitches wider and deeper
and make the middle of the road high,
with an oval slant to the bitches on
both sides. The greatest foe to good
roads lie water. The thorough drainage
of improved roads lie one OF the first
principles Of road construction. Water
will make mud of any soil, and unless 1t
can be conducted away, mud and poor
roadbeds must follow as result. Thor
ouah and complete drains where water
stands or where the soil Ia porous, and
good permanent culverte should be main
tanned. The roads generally, 10 the
country, are very poorly drained and
culverts are neglected, These things
are of the first Importance In road build
ing and repairing. Soda and muckv
soil should not be used In the roadbed,
for they become soft and yielding when
rain falls upon them, so the wheels OF
the wagons or carts sink into the road,
thus leaving deep ruts to become ave
nues for rills or places for mud holes.
Where the coil Is mucky loan, gravellA
aoil should be carted In to form a good
surface for the road, or, II the soil Il
naturally wet o. springy, the road
should be channeled leDgthwize, and
stones filled IN for foundation and Their
covered with dirt. This makes pei
manent and dry rosd. The roads should
be made wider and bitches deeper, and
all rocks removed clearly from the sur
face. The commissioners should fr-
Quently go over the roads In all parts Of
the town, observe every portion with
care, and should place need repairing,
order the work done at once Next to
Improvement and efficiency of our COM
mon schools, our public highway
should engage every thoughtful citiz MS
careful attention.