Milford chronicle., 1909-07-02
TO RAISE ROAD BUILDING
FUNDS BY COUNTY BONDS
Learn What Types of Highways Are
Best Suited to Traffic and Climatic
Conditions.

AfNSdu w dllNl aye lfAiGA lbA Ol
the Office of the Public Roads OF
the u. s. Department of Agricul-
ture, has appeared before State Leg
islatures and county boards in var
ious sections of the country during
the past few months III responce TO
invitations to tell what methods are
bestfor robtaining funds for road con
struction and how the roads should
be maintained after they have once
been secured.
At the present time there are two
principal methods of raising funds
for these purposes, but Director
Page believes that before plans are
set for raising funds. much should
be said regarding the manner in
which such funds should be eX
pended If the voters of a county
show a readiness to spend a gener-
GUS sum in improving their roads,
it is of paramount importance to
them to first ascertain what class Of
roads should be constructed.
1t should not be assumed that
simply because county owns quar-
ries from which trap or limestone
rock can be secured that the eXpen-
sive macadam road must necessari-
ly be built. The qualifications of
any rock cannot be definitely de-
cided upon until laboratory tests
have been held. Much money has
been almost thrown away in this
country, however, on the cOnstruc-
ton of rock-suriaced roads, those
having the construction in charge
neglecting to call in the services of
expert chemists, and using rock to-
tally unsuited to their traffic OF
climate conditions In very
many cases, the results were disas-
trous, the roads quickly raveling
and going TO pieces because the ce-
menting value was lacking.
A county with sufficient pro
gress to bond itself in a liberal !
amount for the purpose of securing
improved roads should keep its
money intact until its officers have |
learned exactly what class OF roads |
will best meet its requirements
what type Of road il is best qualif- |
ed 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 graf
uitous advice and to supply skilled
highway engineers who are qual-
fed to tell what type of highway
would best meet that county's re-
quirements and to demonstrate
those decisions by supervising the
building of stretches of model high
ways, after which local officials
may take pattern.
Wide-awake State and county
officials are now showing the live
lest appreciation Of the results
which follows a visit by these skill
full men, and the demands for their
services are so heavy that it is inn
possible for Director Page TO meet
more than 20 per cent of the re
quests being filled in his Office.
When county officers learn to APP
preciate the fact that road building
is an art, they will rely more and
more upon expert advice and scien 1
tihc demonstration, and when they
have learned what class of roads Is {
desirable, they will construct them {
and then guard them
Therein lies one of the most inn {
Dortant of all American highway {
questions. Americans build as a
good roads as Englishmen or g
but having done so, {
hey rest contented with their efforts G
md let each passing breath of air, t
peeding automobile, or drenching e
ain blow OF wash the road surface u
way s
In the countries Of Europe, I S
where the well-nigh perfect roads G
re the pride OF the citizens ana the a
.nvy and admiration of visiting o
americans, most jealous care is Ii
onstantly given; a careful day-by il
lay inspection is made and every s.
is quickly filled and all S
inequalities rolled or tamped. Il
Two requisites, therefore, con Il
-ont the county supervisors at the g
ut-set first to ascertain what @
OF Is would be most suitable to v
Iat particular section, and to pro Il
ide for funds to expend in their #
after completion. fl
Those are vastly important and
lie Nation S very small percentage
improved roads is due largely to
failure to give consideration to
lem. Millions of money have
cen wasted in building roads W
-hich local conditions made i'm sh
racticable and out Of all cost pro T
ort 'on to the county S revenue. 70