The Democratic advocate., 1909-08-13

owing to our hills, is to grade. Let
me explain what / mean.
The topography of our county is
such that It Is practically up and
down hill. We try to raise the low
places by scraping dirt out of the
side drains into the middle of the
road. Now, this dirt has washed
from the hills and we can raise the
center OF the road by doing the same
thing ourselves. II, instead OF scrap
ing earth from the side to the center
we simply cut off, say, the top OF one
hill and put 1t In the hollow, what will
be the result. We will raise the low
place. giving 1t better drainage,
thereby making it drier and a better
road and at the same time do away
with the grade. You viii be surpris-
ed at the difference In the road. II
will not wash so much, It will be easi-
er to keep In repair, you can haul
heavier loads over IT, and, best OF all.
you did something with your money.
You have changed the grade, and the
rains will never wash the Hill back
again.
Low Places.
Again, you have a road In which
there is a low. wet place, bad most
OF the year. You usually leave 1t alone
and go scraping earth out OF the
drains upon IT, II YOU have a hill
which you could cut down and put
II In you should do so. but IL you
haven't one handy. fill II up with
stones. II you do this and make a
hard out OF what was previously a
soft place you will have done some-
thing that viii be lasting. and not
have wasted the peoples money.
Road Plows.
The read pillow has done a great
deal Of good and also a great deal OF
harm. II does good In packing down
and hardening the roadbedA split log
drag. II II Is heavy enough. will. how
ever. do the same thing. IL does harm
when you are induced by 1t to waste
your time In going over the whole
road scraping not only parts that
need II, but those as well that
don't one OF the worst things IL does
Ia to cut the grass and sod out of the
drains. You want all the grass TO
grow In the side drains you can get
without stopping them up. because
II prevents the drains from becoming
gullles, These may strike you as
revolutionary views. but believe
a little reflection will convince you
they are correct ones
Engineers.
Another thing that We err iu, ia
20 treat road building aa a simple
thing. something thbs any one can do
This IL wrong: Il is as much a science
a. law or bridge building. The
French appreciate this fact and they
have college devoted entirely 10
the science Of road building We
should never attempt any extensive
improvements TO our roads without
having a road engineer aud a good
one Ia charge And in this connec-
ton let me say that | do not believe
we are getting from the Maryland
Geological Commission all we should
believe that II the county would
have the road commissioners Of va
rioua districts meet in Westminster
and have the Geological Commission
send an engineer 10 address them
upon the proper way 10 repair dirt
roadH. we could learn lot and the
county be- better on This could be
easily done. Il Is surely worth trying
The American people have suffered
for a long time from the conditions
OF their roads. but | believe they are
now awakening 10 their needs In
this age OF electricity. Of wireless
telcEraphy. uf the flying machine.
many movements are afoot for the
improvement Of mankind and the ad.
yancement Of our country'a pros
perlty Earnest men and women like
you are coming together 10 consider
what they can best do 10 better theirs
and Others conditions. u IL from
like these that all great re-
forms and movements take their
start and are carried on 10 success.
and OF all the various pnea that the
American people are now consider
ing there IL none believe that will
result In raising our standard OF civ
ilization and be of more benefit 90
the nation at large then this move
ment for good roAda,