The record., 1911-05-18

roads of Muhlenberg have had my
serious consideration, as | am con-
vinced that no other internal inn
provement would enhance land
values half so much, and good
highways would be convenience
and comfort which all would share
alike, whether land owner, renter,
business man or visitor. But when
take into consideration the small
sum of SI2, 900, and look over the
100 miles of dirt roads in the county,
it is easy to see that we haven't
enough money to start the work.
As human nature is the same every
where and always, every man in the
county would like to have his road
put in fine condition, and feels neg
lected if his road is not worked
first, no matter if he lives on a sec
ton that has one-tenth of the travel
that goes over other sections. 1t is
hard matter, with limited allow
ance, to give satisfaction to every
one, but. the matter has been handled
with greatest care and fairness.
To any fair minded thinker it Is
not necessary to state that under
my direction the funds have been
expended with the greatest care,
and the work has been done with
the single thought OF serving the
public. The men who have done
this work are due a generous share
of praise, for they have been i'm
pressed with the meaning of their
labors, and have been enthusiastic,
Intelligent an untifing ~ theIr
services; their grasp of affairs, the
sympathy and help they have given
me have deeply impressed and pleas
ed me, for | have realized that they
have always been willing to give
fullest returns, realizing that while
they were working for others they
we're at the same time working fol
themselves. This interest on their
part has resulted in more satisfactory
results, also, for they are studying
conditions, finding out the needs,
and giving better results, at the
same time doing the work more
quickly as well as thoroughly.
Our people realize that much oi
the work that has been done on the
roads during the past seven or eight
years, especially in the matter oi
culverts and bridges, has been time
and money wasted. The life of d
wooden culvert is from three to five
years, that is, if it is not washed
away the first heavy rain that fails
after il is put in. The bitches FL
up after.a very short time, and tht
road surface is soon ruined, as tht
dirt grading is quickly marked b.
rats, and the surface once broker
the road is soon gong, and remains
that way until next year, when
new appropriation is secured am
the same character of temporar,
work doRe again. This might b.
continued Until the crack of doom
and we would still have no road
8 that meet modern needs. CeTtainl:
there would be some slight gail
each year, but nothing like a fai
Q return for the thousands spent. Gu
road expenditures should be in tn,
nature of permanent investment
rather than yearly expense tha
! must be met indefinitely, PRACTICAL
without any advance so far as high
ways are concerned.
! For the past two years steel an
concrete culverts have been use
pretty generally, and their perman
ence and utility have been proven
None of them have been washed out
h and where properly put down an
q crowned with rock and dirt, non
has been damaged. no matter no
. muddy the roads and how heav
4 the traffic. This should be extend
ed to the bridges, as every one thu
\ was built would last for generation
j, yet to come, and would be lastin
monument to our wisdom and econc
ny. Public money should be sper
y gith sns sfwe jadgpent that direct
private or cqrporste ss9ds, but u
E have not been doing thSt but rattle