Putnam patriot., 1910-08-05
Construction of Roads.

We hear much about the fine roids In Europe, some of which were puiit In the time of the Roman Empire, when labor was cheap, much of which was done by slaves, captives taken Tn war. and when cost was not reek- oned of much account as all the world paid tribute to Rome. In these days, however. cost is the tifst consideration as the burden of payment rests upon all the people, and they decide the question whether there shall be roads and what kinds of roads there shall be constructed. Therefore, to get the peo- ple's consent they first must be con sinced that the roads are necessary for their own interest, and thep to demon stfate what kind of roads are best, talk | ing all things into consideration, not only for the general public but for every | land owner, and to large extent eve
 " resident who owns no land--for all have vote that Is to decide each ques- l ton.
 | The main question that Is being dis cussed today throughout the country | is the need of better roads for the bene- l fit of the farmer, directly and indirect l ls, AS the one to be first convinced II Is being made plain to him that, being com pelled to use bad roads he is actual ly taxing himself, yearly, much more l in extra labor of himself and horses, and wear and tear ol vehicles, great deal more than the lax he would have | to pay for the construction of good | roads, over which lie has to travel
 In the convincing article which we | printed the pa>l two weeks, written | tor the National Grange, la encourage
 the building good roads, k the novel
 one showing lhc "t tili.y of the Motor
 Vehicle, as an additional argument
 Bul the ads aniaees ef having good
 roads k se clearly sct forth, apart ltcm
 The new and noVel oee. that il is diIli.
 cult to conceive hoS any one can fail
 to accept the conclusions reached ey
 the writer of that article.
 The next thing to decide ls, what
 is the best and most economical me | thod to build good and suitable roads, l New experiments are heing tried h 1 this and other countries te decide that l question.
 1 New Jersey. being situated between
 two oE the largest cities iu the country,
 seeame truck.tarming State as The
 most profitable products to cultivate. AS they had 10 get their products early
 te market, il was impossible to draw large loads over the old-tsshloneiidirt
 roads, which would have doubled theif
 profit. In desperation, although Ee-
 garsied as A aciose-iisied people, they be-
 gan improving their roads. They soon
 learned that the better they made their I roads the larger load could be drawn
 and in quicker time, and Il was not
 long before the Stale possessed . fine
 class of roads, and that State became
 the pioneer in that class of improve ment.
 The State did not rest there, but by  every means possible sought to dtscos- CT the best and cheapest way to possess the best class ot roads. snd other States have bcenspsotitsag ffesn its enterprise. NJ ach interest is aroused especially ey statements coneefning . ne~ type of improved road jus, introduced in that State, and its Stale Road Department declafcs is will build na mere macAd- am or telford roads, as it's new system ls altogether preferable, While in the l main Il ts stusilas so shcss two clssnss of roads, its essential difference iies in | the addition of come bitaminous blnd- CT 10 tte dnal iay~ss of crushed stone. | IL has already bssa sdcpted on aaany |