Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1905-05-19
GOOD ROAD IDEAS
BY WALDO MAN
Approves Work of County
Court and Makes Some
Good Suggestions.

Editor Courier: Noting your arti
Gle on the indirect road tax, that the
people of Josephine county pay eacl
year, and which is so much los'
money, lost as completely as though
the $50 pieces were thrown into the
mud holes that are largely responsible
for this indirect road tax venture 8
few ideas ON the road problem IL
Josephine County. One thing l not,
with much pleasure is that the en-
gine Of progress in road matters is OIL
the track with steam up; it is there
fore no time for silurians to get oil
the track and wait there for dor
mant mercury to raise; the sborigine'
adopted the high ridges for then
trails and kept in the brush as much
as possible, because it was at least
some protection against ambush and
sudden attack, but that day is past.
Much praise is due the county
Judge and commissioners for the in
terest they have shown and what they
have done for our good roads in the
recent past. Few persons realize the
enormous duties that pile up ON them
in this direction, and note the sac
rifices of time they are required tC
make and consequent neglect of theii
own interests while looking after oui
numerous roads and bridges; and this
for mere pittance of pay. They
have done nobly and yet the great
work before us is but begun.
Having surveyed and personally
superintendent the construction Of 1S
miles of new mountain road and the
repairing Of 80 miles Of old mountain
road between Waldo and Crescent
City, neoessitating the use of ovel
$50, 600 and from 25 to 1870 men and
two years of time, 1 suppose l ought
to know something about road con.
struction. will confine my remarks
to our main and most important
thoroughfare, being the road from
your beautiful city to Waldo. have
recently been over the road and know
its condition. Very little Of thii
road needs to have gravel or rock
hauled upon it, for in almost every
instance when any attempt has beer
made to properly drain it and gel
the sun upon it, it is a good road.
The hauling of gravel is very expen
sive and should not be resorted tC
when proper use Of the material at
hand will make good road.
Another important thing is to have
more than one track. With but one
track the holes become bottomless
with more than one track a chucl
hole can be lodged until it can be re
paired. The outer edge of every
grade should be kept down; instead
Of having it higher than the middle
of the road, it should be lower. Sc
that the water can run of over the
edge in small quantities instead Of &C
cumulating in body and following
the road to the destruction of the lat
ter. The Hays hill road is a very
good example of this destructive, ex
pensive policy of using the center oi
the road for drai mage purposes Thil
ought to be remedied by at once dig
ging down the outer edge and fillinl
the center of the road with th'
material so obtained; this is better
filling than the soft stuff from tn,
inner bank.
examined the new grade dow
Clear creek, and although it is OF
the shady side OF the creek, three
bridges have been disposed Of ant
the material is so good for roat
bed that it will always be a goot
road at very small expense for re
pairs. Another important chang,
should be made between Kerby ant
the Illinois bridge. / am creditably
informed that by leaving the stag
road at or near John Georges plao,
and following the section lines th,
road can be placed on a good, essy
grade and over gravelly formation
and shorten the distance Ia mile
as against the present route and ayoit
those muddy hills. One thing d.
know is that a very great improve
ment to present conditions can b.
made by change Of ali or part o
this road and 1t should be done with
out further delay aud thus save
waste of money on very bad piec'
OF road as 1t goes at present. Thl
county court should appoint com
petent viewers to look this matte
up. About half way up the Hay
hill is very steep grade. Thi
steep place can be remedied with
out greatly increasing the distance b.
a turn TO the right as one goes up th
bill from the foot Of the steep grade
By swinging off about 100 yards l.
the top Of light ridge, which put
down, then swinging back again b
the eft. splendid grade can b
made with q very light cut and goo,
material.
believe in sunlight on the roads
/ believe in more than one track an
especially do / believe In prope
drainage to be secured by prope
browning the grade. made to suit tn
formation present, steep enough t
drain 10 the sides and not stee
enough to wash and as far as possibl
utilize the material from one place 1
the road 10 repair another. Econom
is an important factor with US an
should never be overlooked In roa
matters. To that end let Us put ou
roads where they are going to renal