The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1909-06-26

purpose of securing improved roads
should keep its money intact until it's
officers have learned exactly what class
Of roads will best meet its require
ments what type OF road 1t Is best
qualified to construct and what il can
best afford. Those facts can pe secured |
through the aid OF the National Gov
eminent the Office OF Public Roads
standing ready 10 give grstuious ad-
vice and to supply skilled highway en-
gineers who are qualified to tell what
type OF highway would best meet that
country's requirements and-to demon
strate those decisions by supervising
the building Of stretches Of model
highways, after which local officials
may take pattern.
Wide-awake State and county officials
are now showing the livliest apprecia-
tion OF the results which follow visit
by these skilful men, and the demands
for their services are 30 heavy that IL
is impossible tor Director Page to
meet more than 20 per cent of the re-
quests being filed in his Office.
When county officers learn TO apprec-
late the fact that road building is an
art. they will rely more and more up
on expert advice and scientific demon
stration, 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 impor-
tant Of all American highway ques-
tions. Americans bpild as good roads
as Englishmen or Frenchnen. but
having done so, they rest contented
with their efforts and let each passing
breath OF air, speeding automobile, or
drenching rain blow or wash the road
surface away.
In the countries of Europe, where
the we'll nigh perfect roads are the
pride Of the citizens and the envy and
admiration of visiting Americans.
most jealous care is constantly given
careful day by day inspection is
made and every depression il quickly
filled and all inequalities rolled CT
tamped.
Two requisites, therefore, confront
the county supervisors at the outset
first TO ascertain what road should be
most suitable to that particular section
and 10 provide tor funds to expend in
their maintenance after completion
Those are vastly important aud the
Nations very small percentage of i'm
proved roads is due largely to failure
10 give consideration TO them. Millions
OF money have been wasted in building
roads which local conditions made i'm
practicable and ont OF all cost proper
tion to the county's revenue.
There are exceptions 10 all rules.
however, and Pike County. Alabama,
stands as a glittering exception to the
usual construction blunder. There the
county officials had planned TO spend a
rye sum in tho building OF gravel
roads.
W. L. Spoon, United States Superin-
tendent OF Road Construction. being
sent to make an inspection Of the
countys road possibilities. learned
that 700 miles Of important routes
needed improvement He figured that
the cost of gravel roads would be 81, DOC
a mile--plainly a sum greater tnan the
county could be bonded for. Condi'
tions, however were ideal for sand
clay construction and he strongly mr..
ged it's adoption by legal provision
the county could be bonded for only
~ per centum Of the assessed value
Of the real and personal property. The
plan was decided upon and an Issue Of
SIS. 900 was voted One hundred thou
sand dollars worth OF the bonds wer'
quickly sold being disposed Of n
$50. 600 allotments.
The first allotment brought prem
ium Of $685. and the second one OF $3.50
Forty thousand dollars was At onc'
spent Tor mules and road-buildinl
machinery ana WORK was started.