The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1906-03-08

esting report regarding the
methods being adopted in
that vicinity to accomplish
public road Improvement, from which
the following is taken:
The Province of Ontario has sixty
thousand miles of country road main
tanned by township and county coun-
ellis. Since the beginning of the move
ment for better roads there is a radi-
cal improvement in the condition or
the roads. The old way of road i'm
provement by statute labor, which has
existed for. nearly a century, and did
much during pioneer days to open
highways, has been largely superseded
by a more modern system of a direct
tax rate and closer supervision.
Township control is universal in road
construction, while at the same time
county councils have undertaken the
management of a system of main roads
within the county. The work of the
county council is devoted chiefly to
legislative functions, and the actual
oversight of work on the grounds is
left to road foremen or overseers. The
county system is aided by the pro-
vincial government to the extent of
one-third of the entire cost of construc.
ton. During the years Of 1903-O4
1924 miles of main roads were i'm
proved at an expenditure of 100000.
through provincial aid. Modern road
machinery, such as grading machines,
stone crushers, is in general use
throughout the province. Natural
gravel beds are numerous, and care is
taken to select the best gravel in the
pit, which, under the modern system,
is placed on the roads after the earth
is consolidated with the roller. Bridges
are now all being built with steel
superstructures, concrete abutments
and concrete floors.
The matter Of drainage is given the
greatest attention. Where underdrain-
age is needed tiles are used, with fire.
quent outlets that will lead to natural
watercourses. Breakers, onc so com.
mon for carrying the water from n
side of the road to the other, are en-
tirely abandoned. Concrete culverts
have taken their place. and on the
steep hills, where such surface drain
age is necessary, the road bed, with its
high centre CROWN, is as smooth as on
the level. In the older parts of Onta-
rio road construction has long since
passed the early temporary stage, and
all improvements are made with a view
of durability. Perth County, of which
Stratford is the county seat, has 1902
miles of country highways; of this 6T2
miles are gravelled and are as fine per-
manent roads as can be found in any
country.
A source of much trouble and ex-
pense to keep country roads open in
this latitude for several months of the
winter is the enormous amount of
snowfall. Snow fences, similar to
those used by railroads., are employed,
but wire fences are much cheaper and
give better satisfaction. In the early
part of the winter snow plowS are
used, but later in the season they cam
not cope with the drifts, and many Of
the roads become absolutely impassa-
bic. TO overcome some of the difficult
ties on 10 roads the last provincial
legislature adopted a measure in pass
ing an act the first section of which
provides that: "On and after the COM
ing into force of this section no person
shall use on any public highway ex~
cept within the limits Of any city any
sleigh Or other vehicle upon runners
drawn by horses or other animals lex
cept cutters) manufactured after the
first day of December, 1906, unless the
same is so constructed that the dis
runners at the bottom is not less than
four feet" The object of this act-to
have a uniform width of sleigh runners
is to get a wider track for double
teams.