The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-02-12
FREDERICKsBURa, va, TUESDAY, FEBRUAF
ROADS
M. Leonard :. PIsrson Gives His Views on the
Subloct

Summit, Va, Feb. ith, lSOi.
To The Free Lance:
note in your last issue a communlca-
ton from Dr. Kuper on the road ques-
ton. and beg 10 make a few comments
and suggestions. Although DR.. kupers =
article shows considerable thought on
his part for the construction and man
agement Of macadamized road, J can
not agree with him. During my travels
and conversations have met with three
different advocates OF road ~ stems; the
macadam. the road machine and the
present system, (the last | name with
apologies TO all. As the contention
will evidently be between the first two
named. il is essential for all interested TO
6pd out the inducements and drawbacks
each system has.
Now 10 me, the macadam idea in our
country bearing in mind all conditions
attached 10 getting and maintaining 1t,
hits me in the same spot that the flying
machine does. may be behind times
and not progressive, but all the same |
AN not going back 70 barbarism with
the tolLgate As the sword OF dellverance.
To begin with, let Us do some figuring
for DR.. kuper and the macadam advO-
Gates. Suppose Spotsy consents
10 be bonded for 100 miles OF macadAm-
lied roads. These bonds would amount
to $1,000 on the basis OF $4,000 %
the mile and you cannot construct Tor
less. This amount at per cent. would
be a $4,000 obligation To atart with.
Now for the tOll-gate keepers at five
miles apart, there would lie 20 and TO
get a three-quarter honest-bred man at
present prices for labor would cost $40
per month. which in all annually would
amount TO nearly $4,000 and with in
terest on bonds total of $4,000 This
amount is simply a burden, which will
benefit none but the gate-keepers. 1t Is
sufficient TO keepus from figuring further,
although ! might mention that the man
agement OF the roads will not be Tor love,
aud that macadamized roads Ike all
Others do not keep themselves. You will
have to pay this $50, 200 burden before
any appropriations can be made for main
tenance. II you pay your tolLgate
keepers aud the interest without getting
into the county treasury, you Will do
well
Now allow me to give my ideas for bet
ter roads. which / consider adequate for
our means. and adapted to the condi-
tions We have 90 contend with ~
YOU do not like my roads you can
put your macadam on top OF them.
am au advocate of the road machine
with Mr. Harris and Mr.. Maxwell, but
wish to follow them up with the vide
tire for wagons. DR.. Kuper il quite cor
rect when he says our roads will not
stand heavy hauling in winter. | am
not aware that anybody has ever
doubted it, He is equally correct in de-
nOuncing poles. No road machine advo
cate has any business talking poles:
gravel is the stuff for excessively bad
places. A road machine can put up fine
road beds, but they do not stand, be-
cause the narrow tires cut them all 70
pieces and you cannot get the water 70
run of. What is it that cuts the roads
up so? Why, the narrow tires; well, let Us
get at them. knife edges have no busi-
ness encircling the wagon wheel All this
road talk and tO-dO ia like the mother
who kept on beating the red headed step
child when her own was at fault. Mend
the cause Of the trouble and not the
trouble, Is a good motto for road enthu-
siasts 10 work under An average saw
mill load for four mules weighs about
6.OOO pounds; this makes 800 pounds
TO a wheel which has y inch tread,
giving in all about 9 square inches to
bear up the 1,500 pounds. No wonder
we have bad roads,nO wonder DR.. Kuper
saws our roads will not stand heavy
hauling n winter, or any other time for
that matter. The macadam will not
stand it either, as you will find out II
you ever get them. Some law should
regulate the loading OF wagons accord
ing to the tread or width OF tire. This
thing Of letting one individual buy any
wagon be pleases, and cut the roads up
as he sees fit. ought 20 be stopped, and
the wide tread law would stop it. The
wide tread idea is abused, because one
or two progressive citizens get them TO
try, making martyrs OF themselves by
trying TO follow In the ruts oithe narrow
tire man. Wide tread wagons will not
do on bad roads know, but you once
get them in shape with the road machine,
you will never have any complaints
again about the roads being cut up. All
four horse wagons should have 8 inch
tires, two horse inch tires, and all light
passenger traffic free.
No, DR.. Kuper, with me macadam
roads and flying ships are in the same
category; cannot get up to macadam
vet. They are lawful nice" as "the
pretty girl would say, but you had bet
ter look before you leap, or rather walk
before you trot, would sound as well in
this connection.
Knowing you, Mr.. Editor, to be
equally interested with all in the good
road question, beg that you giyeprom-
inence to any article advocating the wide
tire in the columns OF your valuable
journal, as candidly believe the wide
tread law will be the only solution OF
our present problem. | have been In
formed on good authority that in COM
munities where the wide tire law has
been adopted, the results were satisiac-
tory beyond expectations.
am yours very truly,
Leonard +. Pierson.