Omaha daily bee., 1911-01-29

Such mistake frequently finds its leg1tI-
mate fruitage in expensive changes Of
location. regarding OF insufficient drainage
and requiring after the expenditure Of
large amounts Of money for construction
that much more must be provided to
remedy the errors originally made.
Requirements for Roads.
THE subject Of road building on plan
commensurate with the necessities and fl
nancial ability OF the people then resolves
itself into but three parts-first, sufficient
engineering skill to properly locate and
drain our highway; second, competent su-
pervision in construction, and, third, money
to pay the bills. 1t is not always neces-
sary TO procure from long distances such
material as gravel or broken stone with
which 10 construct first-class modern high
ways, for the earth road must be first
made and we'll made, and the surface con-
tinually maintained so that when condi-
tions permit there may be found a solid
roadbed on which to place a finished sur
face capable Of withstanding the wear and
tear OF the heaviest or most rapid trLvel
it may be called on to stand.
"Our system of surveys, by which the
state is divided into sections a mile square
makes 1t appear necessary, and in many
cases advisable, to locate our roads along
the section lines so that farms will not
be cut into irregular tracts, and the cost
OF the right-of-way held down to the min
imum. This system is not always objec-
tionable and in many cases gives the best
results with the least cost. especially in
those portions OF the state which lie COM
paratively level, but even under such con-
ditions not sufficient attention is paid TO
the drainage systems. and many miles OF
road have been built by merely carrying
the earth from the so-called bitches at the
side to the so-called road between, build
ing a so-called turnpike. Such a method
OF construction provides our ordinary earth
road, which when partially packed and
made reasonably smooth under the effect
of travel becomes a passable and satisfac-
tory highway for time, and during the
continuance Of favorable weather; but such
road has no lasting qualities; its surface
becomes softened by rains and by stand
ing water in the ruts and side bitches;
frequent repairs are necessary 70 keep II
in passable condition and eventually when
the road funds permit OF further eXpefidi-
lures for Improvement il Is found neces-
sdl9 10 Iebtduet iehiAin OF IN many cases
TO rebuild, so as to enable 1t TO carry a
permanent surface Of harder and more
lasting material
For many years 10 come the people of
this state must content themselves with
the common ordinary earth road built OF
the material at hand, whether II be clay
sand or vegetable loan, and It is proper
that We should carefully study that prob
lem first, and eliminate from our future
work those practices which have united
in giving us such vast mileage Of inferior
roads
Permanent Foundation Needed.
There are two primary considerations
in the construction Of an improved system
OF highways-first thorough drainage. sec
ond a permanent foundation-considera-
tons that have 10 a great extent been ig-
nored in the conduct Of the internal Inn
provement system OF all our western
states.
The temporary methods OF road work
for so many years in use In this state and
I'm fact all through the west must be done
away with and a more careful system
adopted before We can have roads of such
character as to bear the traffic Of .