Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1909-03-25
DIRT ROADS ADVOCATE
Farmer Shows They May Be Had
at Small Cost.
HUNDRED DOLLARS PER MILE
Earth Highways, Scientifically Built
and Regularly Maintained, Are De-
sirabIe, Says p. J. Jewett, Where
Cost Of Rock Roads 10 Too Heavy.


sirabIe, Says p. J. Jewett, Where
Cost Of Rock Roads 10 Too Heavy.
p. ]. Jewett, farmer near Butler.
Mo-, has written to the Kansas City
Star as follows on the subject Of good
roads:
l have been reading with interest the
various letters and editorials In the
Star on the subject Of good roads, az
| read with interest anything on this
subject anywhere. Although farm
or, am also a good roads" man.
I am pleased to see the interest
shown. and while I don't want to
"knock," | am afraid the cause Is be-
ing injured by its friends who write In
that they seem to think no road good
one unless it is made Of rock at cost
| of $4,000 to 5000 a mile.
Il will state as briefly as can how
the subject looks to me. and l believe
will voice the opinion Of IS per cent
of the farmers In the corn belt.
It is evident that If roads are made
in the country the people who live
there (farmers) must either do the
work or pay for it. Individually
have little interest In roads other than
those in my immediate neighborhood
and those leading to my market. In
twenty-five years l have not driven so
far that could not get back the same
day. If have to make trip OF any
considerable distance take train. |
am not vet able to keep motor car
for pleasure and am not willing to
make roads for those who are.
live in an average township In
western Missouri that has sixty miles
OF road. Our assessed valuation Is
S35OOOO. r" make rock roads at the
lowest estimated price per mile. $1,000.
would cost :,1S0,OO0. or more than hai'
the value G. all the property IN the
township. 70 make one mile Mt $1,000
would require tax of 81 cents on
500 A rock road Is never the best
road. II II vas we would not avoid II,
as we always do. when the ground Is
dry and speed rings would he made
that way. 1t Is not permanent. and tn"
cost Of maintaining six miles would be
more than we now put on sixty, l
know that the idea Is to Improve the
most important roads first and the
others later. but the one who lives
mile from the improved road can take
no more than he can pull over the I'M
improved one.
note the argument that | can take
larger loads. make better time, get
better prices. all Of which | admit. but
my present income would have t. be
increased very much to enable me to
stand this cost. | also note that good
roads will enable me to sell my farm
for greater price. Suppose | don't
want to sell We are not all specula-
tors. Would an acre produce more II
its price was 500 than Ii would If 1t
was $50? without doubt | would pay
twice as much tax. II want to sell
It's different. though much like life In
surance-a game you have to die to
beat
Do you see why farmers promptly
vote down anything along this line?
In Missouri the farmers killed the ter
cent state road tax. that was really In
their favor. because they Thought It
was to build state road, in which
they had no interest.
Don't think we are ''mossbacEs.
We want good roads ana appreciate
their value but If we must make them
we insist that they be Of kind that
we can afford and that will suit our
needs.
Why not try good dirt roads? With
the exception Of few miles. say I'D
per cent. near the towns where travel
converges good dirt road properly
maintained would be the very best
possible eight months In the year.
good one ten and passably the other
two. ! believe 500 n mile would
make good dirt roads In our township.
and with $500 more we could grade
down the hills, grade up the low
places. tile out the wet ones, properly
grade and ditch them and put in con
crete culverts where bridges were not
required-in fact, make a modern rock
road without the rock.
As to maintenance, n mile of thirty
foot road can be dragged once for 30
cents. An average of ten times will
be ample But let's say fifteen. and
we have cost of $50. \ grader
should be run over the road once Il
year to open bitches and maintain
proper shape. Two horse graders are
4 do owl Of
$50 "A mile; blowing furrow in bitches
20 cents. TO sum up, then, we have
this result
COST PER MILE.
Construction Observation-Disclosures. $500 90
MAINTENANCE ONE YEAR.
Dragging ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. S""o
Grading ........................... z.oo
FLOWING ........,.........'''... wv wv"
A permanently good road. getting
better every year, as all dragged roads
do.
Looks good, doesn't it? Best of all
Is it's true. | have lept mile or
average road for the last six years IN
such condition that an ordinary good
team could draw q ton over II any day
in that time, aud the whole cost OF
construction and maintenance for the
whole time IS less than 800 Give IT'S
road laws based on common sen.e con-
ytruction that will provide for con
scant maintenance and we can have
good roads. Missouri has a very good
one In the special road district act
that will apply If we can get rid OF
the idea that the only good road Ia
rock road.