The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-01-02

Fifteen years Of hard work along def
nitely planned lines. with a definite idea
Of the ends sought 10 be attained, have
given TO Montgomery County Ala, "a
fine road system for the convenience Of
the population Of the county.
For the first five years Of the period Of
road development IN Montgomery County
work OF road building was confined al
most exclusively to a limited radius about
Montgomery City, and in no case ex-
tending to a greater distance than six
miles from the city. The last ten years
has broadened the scope of road work in
Montgomery County. and the policy Of
the boards of revenue that have held Of
fee in this time has been TO build roads
for the whole county, the rural popula-
ton as well - the urban, instead Of for
the county seat alone.
In furtherance OF this broader road
building policy. Montgomery County has
extended more than 5000 in funds de-
rived from bond issues specially sold for
road building. while a large additional
sum has been expended each year from
the special road funds, made up from
road taxes"
When the county first began its work
Of road Improvement. fifteen years ago,
the task Of hauling cotton 70 market,
whether in Montgomery. the county seat,
or to any other town OF the county. was
a stupendous undertaking. and especially
so In the season Of the year when rain
fan Is heaviest.
Load of Two Bales.
Two bales Of cotton for a two-horse
team was then a good load, and in the
worst seasons OF rainy weather the men
who came from the more distant parts
Of the county in bad weather and reach
ed his destination without more than one
miring IN the deep, soft subgoil over
which the public roads wendell their way.
counted himself lucky.
Under the system Of roads secured
when the plan OF Improvement embraced
but the mere radius about Montgomery
the situation was but little bettered. Tor
the planter bringing his cotton 10 market
had many a hard battle to fight ere he
reached the four or six miles Of good
road that Iessened his troubles at the
last when he neared Montgomery
Happily these conditions that initiated
against the vital prosperity of MontgOm-
cry County are rapidly becoming a part
OF the history that is better forgotten.
and the policy Of road building for ev-
erybody rather than the town is become
actively operative.
The roads Of Montgomery county are
Of two cjasses-improved and unimprov-
ed. the former class being in turn sep
cradle into three lesser classes-gravel,
sandy clay roads. and graded dirt roads.
T There is q total Of $50 miles OF public
roads in the county. More than half or,
TO be exact. 1858 miles. OF this total have
/ been improved, while 3l272 remain in the
old condition % mire.
By far the greater part, or 245.43 miles,
OF the improved roads have been treated
with gravel, and rank with the best OF
/ improved roads OF the entire Union. and
travellers who ride over Montgomery
/ County roads. whether on invitation Of
( local citizens or as motor car tourists
passing through. unanimously declare
them 10 be the best in America, a trib-
ute very high. indeed, when the splendid
pixies OF Kentucky are In competition.
/ sand Clay Used.
sand CLAW is used in another large por-
ton of the improved roads, and Of this
/ character Of roadway there IS $3.50 miles
which is but little inferior TO the gravel
roads.
/ The remainder Of the improved roads
of the county are graded. but unsur.
faced. with any matchmaking material
/ Levels have been established, however
and it is but a question of surfacing with
( the gravel TO make the graded roads the
equal of any kind in the county.
The surfacing material IS very cheaT
in Montgomery County. all Of it being
readily available within eight miles OF
! MONTGOMERY City and hence easily ship
ped by rail to any point in the county
where teams may haul It to roads under
process Of Improvement The sand-clay
! comes from quarries available in many
parts OF the county. and is readily mined
when damp but hardens easily, and
makes an admirable surfacing material
/ giving a finish almost equivalent to as
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