The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1908-11-04
TRIBUTE TO AUTOS,
How Kansas Has Felt influence
Of the Machine.
RURAL ROADS TRANSFORMED.

Farmers Have Taken UP Motor Care
and Improved Reado In order TO Use
Thsm-RemakIns Sand Highways
With Clay.
The farmers motor car has worked
q Transformation on the country roads
OF central Kansas. For many years
there was Indifference regarding the
roads. The old fashioned plan OF
working the road In theory and doing
nothing In practice was carried out.
Now there Is levied road tax In
cash, and the money is used to hire
competent men to do definite work In
keeping the roads in good condition.
A,striking example Is the road from
Abilene to Enterprise, six miles along
the bottoms where gumbo soil is fire.
quent. For two decades 1t had been
almost impossible for heavy wagons
In wet weather owing to the great
ruts cut In 1t. Little more than a
year ago the township entered on the
new plan. 1t is now dragged after
every rain, and the transformation Is
notable, says an Abilene (Kan0 cor
respondent of tho KANSAS City Star.
1t is smooth, even and has become
one Of the favorite runs for the mo-
torlsts OF Abilene owing to its fine
condition. AS n matter of fact, 1t Is
kept smoother than are the city streets
that lead to 1t. The same Is true of a.
road to Detroit, In the line OF tho
RnN knNNniutu
1t, too, is dragged after rains and has
become very attractive highway.
Those who have not been over the
roads cannot comprehend the change
that has taken place In them.
Up In Hayes township, eight miles
from Abilene, are two brothers, Jo-
Beph and Isaac Page, who own motor
cars. They are enthusiastic drivers
| of their touring machines and have
learned to appreciate good roads. They
have taken up the rond drag in their
own communities and are giving the
residents of their locality practical
examples of what can be done in max
ing good roads. Joseph Page says he
has tho best half mile Of road In the
county, and he feels offended IL mo.
torlsts pass along Its smooth course
at less thnn thirty miles IN hour, AS
result, largely of their efforts, there
arc a dozen drags In constant use in
tho township when the farmers can
get time to use them. In tho summer.
with so much rain and such rush
OF work on the farm, 1t has been neg
lccted. but now they are ut 1t once
more. The tendency OF the farmers In
that part of the county toward proper
road work has greatly increased, and
the road tax is being used with bet
ter effect thnn ever before.
Ono OF the farmer motorists Of the
county, p. II. Gfeller of tho northeast
part of the county, was asked by the
city officers OF Junction City recently
to show them how to make good road
drags that would keep the Hoads lead
Ing to the city In good condition. They
Intended to mako bid for trade by
dragging the roads In NIL directions
from the city and are asking tho farm
ers to come there to trade because Of
the excellent highways lending into
town.
ME Gfeller recently returned from
200 mile trip to western Kansas In
nhltu h6 muu uCSOliPuhACufby hAo Auhh
lily. They were gone week and had
successful Journey. Their car has prov
cd great satisfaction to tho family,
living, MS they do. twelve miles from
town. Now tho members are seen In
Junction City and Abilene frequently.
and there Is nothing going on of con-
sequence In the county that they do
not attend. Tho sandy loan of tho
uplands gives fine brsls for the
dragged roads. and Mr.. Gfeller has bo
como an enthusiast on the subject
He advocates this as the solution OF
the road question Mt all times.
Another interesting experiment that
has been made by the farmers of the
county who have become interested In
good roads Is the remaklng of the sand
roads by paving them with clay. For
Instance tho main street Of Detroit, n
little town flve miles east OF Abilene,
was for years waste of deep sand.
The road is much travelled, and all tho
motor car parties from Kansas City to
Denver go through this street. Tho
town trustocs tried to grade It up, but
were unsuccessful, 30 they finally de-
termined to pave.
along tho Smoky Hill river enough clay
to make a covering for the roadbed.
and this was smoothed down until 1t
became flne, hard road. one OF the
best IN the county, while the sand be.
meath takes up the moisture, and the
road Is always dry. This proved 30
satisfactory that other sand roads in
that vicinity have been similarly treat.
ed and are passabie for every sort OF
vehicle. The hills that formerly could
only be trnversed by the well equipped,
teams and where motor cars could not
go now are excellent highways, and
the cars are frequently run over them.
Roadmaking has received q decided
impetus since the introduction of tho
motor car tc the rural districts OF the
county. There are more than hun
dred cars In this county. and the num-
Der Ia increasing every week. Many Of
these are owned by the farmers. and
these arc the ones who bring to the
movement for good roads the best of
effort. Next years road money will DO
used more than ever for the dragging
Of the roads. and the county will even
iually have ane highways in every prln-
cipal direction connecting the towns.
Making Friends.
A man picked up stone because
he was afraid of dogs-the dogs
growled at him. So he picked up
q -