The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-01-16
JOHN 7. STEWART
ON GOOD ROADS

ment where the roads should be made
to suit the load, and to show these
sections, IL possible, that their roads
can be improved with the money and
material at hand. In other words, we
should advocate the improvement of
roads with the money and material
available.
The qualities to be sought i n a road
are a nat grade with a smooth, dust
less surface of a degree of hardness to
Withstand the traffic, and still suffi-
cient elasticity to prevent injury to
animals and jar to vehicles when NOV
ing at ordinary speed.
The conditions to obtain these re-
quirements will vary with the climate
locally and funds available. In the
arid region the roads become dusty
from continuous travel; ia sandy rec
gions soft from the nature of the soil.
In the alluvial areas of the humid
region they become soft from excess
sive moisture, and rough from being
Travelled while wet. As the road ma
terials vary in each of these regions.
the road problem becomes one of stu
dying local conditions, material avail
able, and funds at hand, and with
these constructing q road which will
approach as near as possible to the
ideal qualifications of a good road
which are the same under all condi-
tons.
:. the greater number of localities il
is not practical from a. financial stand
point t secure the ideal road at once.
Where this is true. attention should
be given to future needs such that the
work will not be entirely wasted bs
other improvements. Good locations
should Q selected, road beds graded
and drained that will be satisfactory
for any type of superstructure. If il
Is not possible to prepare the road
he'd entirely, it should be, done in such
q way as not to increase the cost oil
future improvement. A sufficien1
width can be left, and the greater par
of the earth for grading taken from
one side. the other side to be com
pleted at some time in the future. Toe
often, grades are thrown up or bitches
made that must be destroyed by flu
ture. Improvement at a greater cos
than If they have never been made
Such work has a tendency to retro
gression rather than progression
While 1t Is true that the exigency d
the case or the shortage of money
a compel the construction of roat
work that may have 40 value in future
Improvement, it is very seldom tha
such work will add to the cost o.
future improvement il the future |
considered at the time Of construction
Water Is the natural enemy of roads
and seldom will a community be founs
In which the road builder will no
have to combat this destructive eIe
raent in some form. Even in the arit
regions the sudden downpour of rail
that occasionally occur renders lonl
reaches Of road impossible, BY erosion
Consequently drainage may be Gales
the Foundation Of road improvement
and until the water has been provides
for, there is no permanent road i'm
provement. In our prairie states
where most OF US are interested
thorough drainage may safely be sal
Go solve one-haf the road problems
Hence. work properly spent in drain
ing Is an improvement that will b
required regardless of the nature q
future traffic or materials used ia sh
sup~erstructure. In swamp or wet area
drainage should be encouraged befor
roads, for the reason that drainag
an increased income from th
1850