The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1912-05-14

thV poSepbC ~ pO'~ 1890
on the very important subject of good
roads and our own state is represent
ed in the halls of Congress by men
who are taking an active part in hav-
ing the bills on good roads passed by
our national assembly. The good roads
movement has taken such firm
hold in all our states that we in the
near future will see every individual
possessed of the desire of having
roads that will be credit to the ma
ton, state and community.
A community is sometimes judged
by the appearance Of its cemetery. lr
the future our Gem state will he
Judged by the good roads.
II is interesting to note the active
part that the farming communities
take in building and maintaining
roads. In the state of Minnesota
where the soil is deep. the farmers
have what is termed a road drag
constructed on very primitive prin.
ciples, but this drag Is used VIA
very good success. Miles and miles
of road ere built by the method OF
dragging. II is absurd to think now
Of dumping load of gravel in a mud
puddle In the middle of public roa0.
The Iraotice is abandoned in that
state, gravel being used for concrete
construction purposes. The lush holes
are filled with common dirt and
packed firmly. Then after the first
rain, when the dirt begins to form a
crust, the drag is put in use. short
piece of road is worked at a time,
going over 1t several times, II neces'
sary, until there appears nice
crown in the center of the road; the
road is then in fine shape for travel.
In most parts Of the state of Iowa
the drag is being used with great
success. The drag is made Of a
split log or squared timber sawed
to the right dimensions, then shod
with sharp piece Of iron, so as TO
cut off clearly all weeds and draw
the crust and dirt to the center OF
the road. A short drag is preferable
to long one; It cuts better and is
easier handled by the horses. The
drag is made of heavy wood and the
chain attached SO that II will cause
u downward pull.
1t Ii ridiculous to think that road
drag sAould be used for the construC.
ton of all roads. Road constructing
machinery is now being invented, and
some of these machines are already
in use in some parts of the country,
but it is folly to expect that good
roads can be built and constructed by
taxation. 1t is fact that commun.
ity or county will never possess the
financial ability to perform this inn
portant work; hence the agitation in
Cur national assembly.
The royal highways" in northern
Europe were not built by taxation,
the governments of Sweden, Norway
and England realizing the Importance
OF having the farmers get in touch
with the cities appropriating the
means. The products of the farm in
these countries are carried to the
large and small cities at less eX.
pense than in our own country and
at large saving to the consumer
The farms are the backbone of this
country and are entitled TO recogui.
ton. Free rural delivery routes are
installed, and with good roads the
farmer will be encouraged in his hard
labors to follow civilization and edu-
cate his children.
Owing to the general bad condition
the rural roads Of the west are in dur
ing at least one half of the year, the
average cost by animal power is about
20 cents per ton per mile. For the
same cost railroads haul freight about
fifty miles; steamers on the great
lakes, 200 miles; electric lines from
five miles upwards.
Congress, in March, 1898, appointed
General Roy Stone to investigate and
gather data of the cost of building
roads and the cost OF hauling freight
over them. He reported to Congress
that the average cost of hauling per
ton per mile throughout the United
States was as follows:
Eastern states ...... 80 cents
Northern states .. "a cents
Middle Southern states. 81 cents
Southern (cotton) ..... 20 cents
Prairie states ...., % cents