The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-03-22
GOOD ROADS AND BAD.

making some men remind us of the ia miliar old story of the man and his leaky house. A traveller stopped at the house to get out of the rain ana found the owner sitting in the only dry spot while the rain was coming through the roof in all directions. Why don't you repair your roof?" asked the stranger. Because it's rainin'." was the reply. Well. why don't you mend it when 1t is not raining?" was the next question. Because 1t don't need mendin' then, v he was promptly answered.
 It Is just so with some men and the roads. When the weather is wet and the roads are soaked 1t Is not possible to repair them. When it is dry and roads are in good condition the need of working on them is not apparent to those who only look to present condi- tion. It is not at all a good policy. for good roads-and we mean roads that are in good condition at all seasons | any community. All people have oc- casion to travel on the public high ways at some time: consequently all are interested. to a greater or lesser extent, in having good roads, The old plan of calling out the road hands once or twice a year to cut out q few roots and HI the worst holes and gull lies is fast falling into "innocuous des- uetude" and will not do in this day.
 The truth is that road-making is an art, and-keeping roads in repair Is an other. Tn the old world, and in some portions of our own country as much care and pains are taken to build a common road as is bestowed on a rail road They do not content themselves with cutting a path q rod in width through the woods and leaving 1t so, but they survey the route lay 1t off to the best advantage. and then pro ceed to make and grade a roadbed that will last, and that will afford a com fortable, safe and easy way for travel of all kinds and at all seasons When a road of this kind is finished it Is not only safe and pleasant to travel on but the frequency and need of repairs are very much lessened. Then, if repairs are needed, the work is not put on to suit the convenience of any one butTis done when needed and done thorough ly. z
 Another fact which should be borne in mind is that in these days of pro- gressiveness a community is largely judged by the condition of it's high ways. If they are neglected. badly kept and at times impossible, the peo. pie of that community will be set down as neglectfuL slothful and non-pro- gressive. and the verdict will be a just one. If, on the other hand, the road ways are in good condition at all times and seasons so that travel on them Is always pleasant the stranger will at once decide that here Is a community of up-to-date citizens. and that. also will be correct conclusion. Show me your roads and I will tell you what you are" might become an adage.
 The old custom of building and re- pairing roads by either voluntary or enforced labor is obsolescent and will soon be obsolete. for 1t is not in ac- cordance with the spirit of the age, nor with sound policy or good judg- ment. As many of us can remember the overseer would summon those sub spring and fall. and proceed to work the roads" as it was erroneously termed. but it would have been much nearer correct to call it going over the roads Almost every man had work at home that needed him and the main point with all was to finish the job a soon as possible. with the natural re- suit that the work was botched and the roads were soon in as bad state as ever
 That way of dolng--or not doing things will not do now. Koads must be constructed and kept up by con- tract under the supervision of compe- tent superintendents and the work must be paid for as any other public work is paid for. Tn broad sense 1t Is as much the duty of the State or the County, or both. to prepare and main tain good highways as it Is to preserve the peace and protect property within their Jurisdiction. The roads are the property of the government as well as of the public and the government should see to their condition and pay for 1t. It requires but a small addi- ton to the individual taxation to pay the expense of this absolutely neces- sary work and all citizens should cheerfully submit to 1t for the general good. Good and we'll kept roads are credit to a community and bad ones are a discredlt That is the truth in few words, and as good roads cannot be assured under old methods the new way must be adopted and enforced. l Hear fhe oF the xsyhnIa