Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-07-25
Rural Delivery and Highways.

Rural delivery ana highways.
The subject Of good roads as affect
ing the rural delivery service has been
revived by the suggestion that the post
Office department, in Washington, in
view Of it's interest in the maintenance
Of good roads incident to efficient rural
delivery service, take steps looking to
some action by the government for the
improvement of public roads. In this
connection it should not be overlooked
that since the year 1894 the Congress
has made appropriations to enable the
Secretary of Agriculture to make in
Quiries In regard to the systems of
road management throughout the Uni
ted States, to furnish expert advice on
road building, and to make investiga-
lions in regard to the best methods Of
road-making and the best kind Of road
making materials in the several States,
and for preparing, publishing and dis
tributing bulletins and reports Of such
work.
The maintenance Of good roads, I'M
obstructed by gates, with no unbridged
creeks or streams not forbade at all
ordinary seasons of the year, is a Con-
dition precedent to the establishment
and continuance Of rural delivery SER
vice, When rural agent or a post
master reports that the roads traversed
by rural carriers are impossible, or in
bad condition, the matter is taken up
by the department, through the post
master, with the local road authorities
and due notice given that unless the
condition Of the roads is improved it
will be necessary to take steps looking
to the withdrawal Of the service in that
vicinity.
This policy has resulted in the ex-
pendlture Of thousands Of dollars
throughout the country In the construc-
ton of bridges and the improvement
Of highways. The maintenance Of good
roads, as required by the postoffice de-
partment, does not necessarily involve
any radical change in the system Of
roads in a given locality, but does call
for a system Of grading that will keep
the roads smooth and properly drained
The Importance of systematic effort
with a view to keeping the roads in
good condition is illustrated by the OK
perience Of the department during the
past six weeks, when it has been nee
essaIy to suspend service in some To-
calities, the condition Of the roads be-
Ing such as to make it impossible for
the. carriers to traverse their routes
This naturally results in complaint,
which frequently comes from people
who are themselves responsible for the
| condition Of the roads. While in some
respects the past season has been an
unusual one, in that the weather condi-
tons have been such as to make the
roads unusually muddy, still if the
system Of working the roads was con-
Quoted along more intelligent lines, 1t
Is believed the existence Of the condi-
lions referred to would not be posi-
Bile.
1t is necessary to repeatedly call to
the attention Of road authorities In Civ
| en- localities the requirements Of the
| department in this respect. In some
| communities where the benefit of good
roads is appreciated by the business
men, commercial clubs and other SINH
lar organizations are Offering prizes for
the best mile Of road on any rural route
| running from the particular commun-
| ity, which it is believed will result not
only in improved roads in that particu-
lar section, but in increased interest
on the part Of the people themselves.
The Indifference in some places to
this important subject, so far as rural
delivery service is concerned, is dis
closed by the inspection Of the service
now being made, and it is hoped that
| the result Of the efforts Of the DEPART
ment during the summer will be such
an Increased interest in the improve
ment Of all highways traversed by ru-
raj routes that the department will be
enabled to more satisfactorily complete
the work Of extending the service to the
largest proportion of the rural popula
tiOn throughout the country.-St. Louis
Globe-DemOcrat.
LIVES OF FISHES SAVED.