Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1906-05-03
For Better Highways,

Of Illinois AZ the last session enact
cd u law providing for state high
way commissioner, and Governor
Deneen has appointed as commissions
ers Dr. Edmund j. James, president
Of the State University; Joseph II.
Fulkerson, president OF the Young
Farmers Club Of Illinois; and Hon.
Lafayette Funk Of Mclean county,
Illinois, one Of the leading farmers
OF the state.
IL Is not n Hard Roads" COM
mission, hut simply Highway COM
mission. The commissioners, dis.
claim any preconcieved policies ex-
cept to aid In giving the state bet
t,r publ roads. Tn y state In an
open letter TO the public that over
~ per cent Of the actual highways
of the state is earth road, which Is
destined To become the prevailing
type of roadway. This means that
the influence OF this very important
commission will he thrown toward
the drained and dragged road, which
seems To offer Ia rural jewellers the
only hope Of immediate relief In oh
tanning better roads In country
where rock roads are practically out
Of the question on account OF the
cost.
The province Of the commission
Will he to make 4 thorough study Of
the road question; To furnish assist
ance to local authorities in the way
of advice. statistics, specifications,
plans, testing Of material, etc. 1t
will work in intelligent harmony
with the penitentiaries Of the state.
An expert engineer has been ell
gagged. Mr.. 4. y. Johnson. recently
connected with the department CT
agriculture at Washington, and Il
gentleman Of wide experience in
this field.
The establishing Of this highway
commission Is the beginning Of a
greatly needed and far reaching en-
terprise. 1t will place the con.
struction of the country roads upon
a business basis and enable county
and district officers to work effect
lively.
An extract of a letter from Mr.. Il.
+. Workman. in commenting upon
this matter, is indicative of the gem
eral temper of the people OF this
state OH this subject:
such a commission confronts a
hard proposition. There are many
theories with more or less merit, ac-
cording to the local conditions: but
here in central Illinois (Sangamon
county, the question of hard roads
Is very remote. The cost OF trans
portation of material makes il al
most If not altogether prohibitive,
but permanent road work is mat
ter that has been too long neglected.
THE arch enemy to good roads on
our deep soil Is water; we have at
some seasons of the year the best
roads on earth: and the roads have
been greatly improved by tine tiling
of farm lands adjacent to the roads.
even where road improvement has
not been considered, but done TO
benefit the farms.
IF our roads were properly tiled
under the direction of competent
civil engineer and properly construct
ed intakes for the water during ex-
cessive rains, or when the ground
was frozen, would we not see the
same improvement In our roads that
we do in our fields when properly
AMI Systematically tiled? The in
takes of six inch tile placed at in
tervals of thirty rods, joined to the
mains with cement to prevent water
washing into the mains from the
outside, the intake TO extend few
inches above the surface Of the road
side ditch, the top section to he so
constructed that the water will en-
ter from the side instead of the top,
which should he entirely closed.
The whole problem of dirt road
making is the disposition Of water.
The time of year when the split-log
drag is most effective is in the
spring when rains are excessive and
the economy of labor is seen in the
fact that when spring work is halt
I'd by showers and wet soil. that is
the proper moment To get ont the
drag.
1t is plain that the success of
this highway commission is absolute
ly dependent upon the hearty coop
Grafton of county, township and dis
trict officials, and we earnestly be-
A.. i.,., Arf