The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1909-06-23

Logan Waller Page, Director of the
Office of Public Roads of the U 5.
Department of Agriculture, has ap-
peared before State Legislatures and
county boards in various sections OF
the country during the past few
months in response to invitations TO
tell what methods are best for obtain
ing funds for road construction and
how the roads should be maintained
after they have once been secured.
Two Matters of Finance.
At the present time there are two
principal methods of raising funds for
these purposes, but Director Page be-
lieves that before plans are set on
foot for raising funds, much should
be said regarding the manner in
which such funds should be eXpend-
ed. If the voters of a county show a
readiness to spend generous sum in
improving their roads, it is of para
mount Importance to them to first as
certain what class of roads should be
constructed.
Quality of oRcI< Differs
1t should not be assumed that SIM
ply because county owns quarries
from which trap or limestone rock
can be secured that the expensive ma
cadam road must necessarily be built.
The qualifications of any rock can
not be definitely decided upon until
laboratory tests have been held. Much
money has been aim ost thrown away
in this county, however, on the con-
struction of rock-surfaced roads,
those having the construction in
charge neglecting to call in the SER
vices of expert chemists. and using
rock totally unsuted to their traffic
or climatic conditions. In many, many
cases. the results were disastrous. the
roads quickly travelling and going to
pieces because the cementing value
was lacking.
Exercise Care First.
A county which shows sufficient
progress to bond itself in a liberal
amount for the purpose of securing
improved roads should keep it's money
intact until it's officers have learned
exactly what class of roads will best
meet it's requirements; what type of
road it is best qualified to construct
and what it can best afford. Those
facts can be secured through the aid
of the National government, the Office
of Public Roads standing ready to
give gratuitous advice and to supply
skilled highway engineers who are
qualified to tell what type of high
way would best meet that county's re-
quirements and to demonstrate those
decisions by supervising the building
of stretches of model highways, af-
ter which local officials may take
pattern.
Learn From Experts.
Wide-awake state and county Of
ficials are now showing the liveliest
appreciation of the results which fol-
low a visit by these skilful men, and
the demands for their services are sc
heavy that it is impossible for Di-
rector Page to meet more than 20
per cent of the requests being filed
in his office.
When county officers learn to APP
precate the fact that road building
is an art, they will rely more and
more upon expert advice and scien-
tifc demonstration, and when they
have learned what class of roads is
desirable, they will construct them
and then guard them.
Fail in Maintainancc.
Therein lies one of the most i'm
portant of all American highway
questions. Americans build as good
roads as Englishmen or Frenchmen
but having done So they rest content
ed with their efforts and let each pas
sing breath of air, speeding automo
bile, or drenching rain blow or wash
the road surface away.
In the countries of Europe, where
the well-nigh perfect roads are the
pride of the citizens and the envy ano
admiration of visiting Americans
most jealous care is constantly given
careful day-by-day inspection is
made and every depression is quickly
filled and all inequalities rolled oil
tamped.
The Two Requisites.
Two requisites. therefore, confront
the county supervisors at the outset
first to ascertain what roads would be-
most suitable to that particular sec
ton. and to provide for funds to ex
pend in their maintenance after com
pletion.
Those are vastly important and the