The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1908-09-03
GRANGERs' HEAD CRITtCIsEs
ROADS.


Master w. F. Hill. of the State
Grange in his address at the Grang-
ers' picnic here, criticised the meth
ods of the State Highway Depart
ment in building State roads. He
declared the highways are improper
ly constructed by the officials and at
a greater cost than necessary.
He advocated the building OF good
roads and the advancement of pub
lie schools, but urged that the State
provide the money necessary and re-
leve the people of the localities
affected from the burden of taxation
now imposed upon them. He in.
vited the people to join the grange
and become identified with a move-
ment to accomplish this means
through the Legislature.
The speaker further urged the
passage of bill giving trolleys ad-
ditional rights of way and compelling
them to haul freight Postal saw
ings banks were also urged by Mr.
Hill.
On the subject of good roads and
the methods of the State Highway
Department, MIR. Hill said
"A leading factor in the Develop
ment of every community in the
State is good roads. When we
speak of the great problem of trans
portation We must not forget that
the public roads are an important
part of 1t. Most products hauled
over our steam roads get their first
haul over the public roads. have
seen it stated that 90 per cent. of all
products entering into transporta-
tion originates at the farm and these
are hauled to the mill, to the mar
ket, or to the railroad over the
country roads.
"As the leading organization
among farmers the Grange stands
immovably for good roads. We COM
mend the enterprise of the State in
this direction, but l fear that the
results being achieved by the pres
ent administration in this respect
will prove to be disappointing.
THE roads built under the SUI
pervision of the State Highway De-
partment cost an average of between
eight and nine thousand dollars per
mile, and almost everywhere | find
they soon become unsatisfactory,
and in two or three years get to be
a serious menace to the very move
ment they are intended to encourage.
THE smoothly rolled, fine oval
surface looks very pretty for the first
few months, but veneer work in
road construction will not last The
thin bottom layer of comparatively
small stone often laid on soft dirt
recently graded in, will not support
an average sized road In the sLring
of the year, and ruts and depressions
result.
THE functions of the Highway
Department were designed to be
educational and helpful, not secret
i've or dictatorial. II was the intent
of Hhis law that the department
should issue frequent bulletins to the
township supervisors giving expert
information for road purposes, for
sewers, bridges, etc. These bulletins
should discuss approved practical
plans by which the supervisors can
best improve and maintain their
township roads, secure proper grada-
ton, drainage, etc. Let the Com
monwealth instruct and enthuse
farmers everywhere in these lines
and then pay so per cent. of the
expenses on the township road, and
we VIII nave Dig army working
lor general road Detterment.
Ihe state Highway Department
takes the whole matter away from
any control by the people locally,
ana with It's almost universal prac-
uce OF permitting the running up of
large Dill FOR extras above the
contract price, the taxpayers md
themselves obligated in much larg-
er sum than was expected.
AS 1t has been fully demonstrat-
ed that these roads built at even
thls vast expense are not standing,
think 1t Is time to try some other
plan. In many parts of the State
thls $1,000 per mile would make five
or SIX miles OF good gravel or COM
pact earth road, and II built under
the direction OF competent engineer
ing advice, would meet all local re-
quirements, could be maintained in
good condition under competent di-
part parsment, and would be better