The Havre herald. [volume] (Havre, Mont.) 1904-1908, 1905-12-29
ROAD llAINTENA
ETERNAL VIGILANCE AN IMPORTANT
FACTOR IN IMPROVING HIGHWAYS.

NegIectine Them Causes Most of the
Trouble-Dutte% of Road Commits
aioners-Best Use For Road Ma
ehfnes--where Shade Is Helpful.
The late J. Q. Sanford, state highway
commissioner Of Vermont, was insist
emit ON the maintenance Of the roads,
says Good Roads Magazine, and in one
of his last circulars to the local COM
missioners he said:
The great roadmaster John L. Mac
adam said, "A good road Is an artif1-
cial floor, forming a strong, smooth,
solid surface, capable Of carrying great
weight and over which carriages may
pass without impeachment" In build
ling roads we strive to approximate
this Ideal.
a high authority on road matters re-
Gently said, 1.-THE time to begin road
repairs is the day the road Is finished"
If good roads are maintained there
must be eternal vigilance. Keeping
sverlastingly at it Is the only way.
Roads deteriorate constantly and some
Zines rapidly when left alone. It Is
neglecting 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
hon, rather habit, Of working the roads
once year. We have repeatedly rec
commended that road commissioners ap-
point men In various parts of the town,
each to care for section of road and
doing the slight work which, II done at
the right time, saves the road and
keeps 1t good. The proposition has
been misunderstood, some taking 1t to
mean that each appointed man was to
maintain and work his section of road
I'm 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 part Of the
town at all times. AS he cannot be
everywhere present, he should exercise
his will through others who will do his
bidding for the pay and encouragement
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, and there is increasing com
plant from the public over the poor re-
turns for the expense. Roads are be
coming narrow, the shoulders destroy.
ed, depressions made where water
stands to tester and destroy. A 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, nj
ways when the road is wet. 1t saves
a lot of good material that Is working
down into the bitches: 1t fills the ruts
and depressions and keeps the road II
good form. The best time for shaping
earth roads with q machine is in thu
spring, while the ground is plastic an,
easily worked. AS rule, when tn
earth has become settled, hard and firm
the roads should not be broken up.
requires great force to do this in mid
summer, and when broken up they viii
not be SO we'll settled again that year
the broken surface being dust or mut
dCIOIulAS az IAe " Sdtlltis
The law requiring road commission
ers to remove loose stones from tn
road once a month is wrong. No roa
should be neglected for a month. TIL
loose stones are a nuisance and shout
be removed as often as they appear
Tight stones that project above til
road surface should be broken down /
the even surface with heavy hammers
Mudholes are too common, and ther
Is no excuse for their being. The
come by growth, which should be pr
vented Sand roads are benefited b
shade TO conserve moisture and kee
The road from drying out. Roads
other material need sunlight and air
Try the surface quickly. The borde
of road should be kept we'll trimme
and in doing this cleanliness and roa
side beauty should be regarded. The
a value in our roadside attraction
and beauty costs nothing. \ little ca
and arrangement in what we do W
give pleasure to all who pass that wa
Since the rural people are cultivatil
more Of the aesthetic side of life n
others Of culture, refinement a
wealth are establishing their homes
Vermont. road officials should at 10;
preserve the natural attractions II
beauty Of the roadsides.
Keeping Roads Good