The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1913-01-10
|0l|

=
The people generally have come 10 a
INMlYI .calization OF the needs OF a high stan
- ard Of public highways
few years ago, before the automobiles be
came so numerous, the demand for better roads
was not so urgent but since that time there has
been a general movement throughout the United
States for permanent roads built on more cndur-
ing lines than the common graded dirt road.
To this end bond issues and special road tax
levies have been ordered in a large number OF
counties throughout the state In some instances
bond issues have been defeated, but IN most cases
farmers as well as the merchants have realized
the good effect 10 be had in the building and
maintaining OF permanent roads, and powerful en-
gines. graders and hauling wagons have been
designed for this work, as it has been found that
roads built by engines which have broad wheels
and wide enough to roll down the dirt as fast as
II is graded 10 the center OF the road, produce
q hard, solid surface that is not subject TO wash
ing away or cutting back into the bitches SO
common with the roads made by the old method.
Hauling wagons with broad tires and bottom
dumping devices are used in trains TO haul the
gravel and broken stone, which Is spread out
without the expense of hand raking, and is there
lore accomplished at a very great saving IN cost
The comparison of the cost Of grading and
hauling has been found 10 be so much in favor
of the new method that building roads by machin-
cry has been adopted by contractors, street and
county commissioners, not only as a matter of
saving Of the cost but ui performing the work
much better and quicker The character oi the
roads built by steam or gasoline tractors has
now become the best and most desirable from
every point Of view. and the old idea OF blowing
and grading and hauling by the team process IL
being discarded TO a great extent
The accompanying cut herewith illustrates Che
splendid equipment sold to the O'Nc Engineer
ING company of Dallas which is now in
operation in the good roads work IN progress
around Paris, Texas, in Lamar county. This out
iit consists of two very powerful gasoline trac-
tors. which are capable of pulling three graders
In the work of building the grades or IN hauling
,hc material Tor finishing these roads. These
engines are capable of pulling six OF the large
steel wagons a, shown IN the cut each loaded
with six yard, of gravel or broken stone.
The reader will readily see what a saving of
.ast in road building can be made m handling
material in this way, as It would take thirty-sN
teams 10 haul the same load. which, al "a cost OF
the low figure of S. per day for teams would
amount TO Sos while the tractor and Oh, cng
ucer and men necessary 20 handle the WAGONS
would not exceed cost of SIS per day. including
oil and gasoline Roads built with this kind 81
machinery all OF which has wide tires. are thor
ouphlv rolled SO that there Is stability which
cannot be had in any other method.
Ii is not surprising that the people generally
are demanding better roads There is nothing
that can result in more profit 90 the farmer than
good roads enabling him 10 get bis produce 60
market at any season of the year, al a saving
upon teams. harness and wagons but the great
ed benefit that he receives is iu the-cnhanccmcui
II the value of his farm. Who Is there that would
not paw more for farm located on a good pike
road than II IL were on a mud road' AMI. tax
ing this view OF the matter, II Is hard to under
sl,and why any community would vote against
lv1d issue or any other movement of the kind
ling toward the improvement of The roads
rIreral counties where bond issues have been
"a special districts have been laid ont and u
,.ndeavor % carry the bond ISSUES they