The Colfax chronicle., 1913-03-22
Cur Next Most Important Problem.

1Idiit pai 1911 SiiJoy . eAiS NiSSAA'S
ton of being the first parish in
the State to profit by State aid in
the building of model roads un-
der the law adopted during Gov.
Sanders administration. We
have now about completed eighty
two miles of the best dirt roads
in the State, together with about
five miles Of graveled roads.
These roads represent a cost in
round figures of something over
$40, 600, of which the State paid
So, 900, and the parish with the
all of some of the communities
has paid the remainigg $110, 900.
Our next most important prob
lea is to see that our fine system
o. ioadways shall be maintained
ana kept at its present high state
oil perfection. 1t is essential that
this work begin at once, and that
it be prosecuted with vigor, es-
pecially for the first two or three
years, until the roads have be-
come packed and sodded, when
they may not perhaps require so
much work to maintain them.
The police jury a few months ago
made provision for a dozen split
log drags to be used in the main
tenance of the public roads, but
we understand that they are only
about one-third of the number
needed for this work. We trust
our police jurors will follow up
their good beginning along this
line, and not only have a suffi-
cient number of drags provided
with which to do the necessary
work, but will also take steps to
make it the duty of somebody to
do the work, or see that it is done.
In addition to a score or more of
drags the parish should also have
two or three wheel scrapers in
order to do a certain amount of
repairing and rebuilding that will
be required.
Let US profit by the experience
Of others in this matter. A little
work done promptly and with
regularity on our roads will save
the parish hundreds of dollars in
the long run.
Mr.. j. E. Penny Backer recently wrote
an article for The Worlds Work on
road maintenance and upkeep. Among
other things he said: "A year or two
ago Government engineer reported on
$40. 900 road in one of the southern
States, built properly and with due re-
gard to conditions prevailing. but allow
ei absolutely to go to ruin for lack of
maintenance. This is one of many
thousand cases. American engineers
are equal to any in the world. Our
methods of construction are abreast of
the latest and best of any land, and in
labor-saving machinery and equipment
for the construction of roads America
leads the world. The rock crusher,
which has supplanted the old laborious
method Of breaking rock with ham,
mer, is the invention of an American.
1t is in our woeful lack of maintenance
that we lag behind every other civilized
nation. Our county officials seem to
think that a good road is everlasting,
and proof against the ravages of traffic
and elements. France maintains her
supremacy as good roads nation by
her tireless, watchful care of her roads.
Every mile of her main roads is inspect
ed daily and every defect repaired as
it occurs. what is needed in every
country is skillful supervising and a
well trained road force which will make
its whole object in life the care and
betterment of the public roads. Sys-
tematic and continuous maintenance is
absolutely the key to system of good
roads.