The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1915-11-04
AFEW REMARKS
ON GOOD ROADS
Al Interesting Paper Read Before the
Pierian Chautauqua Circle Which
PithiIy Boosts the Good Roads Move
ment in the .. S.
By Uncle John.

This is a subject that should re-
ceive more consideration throughout
the country than it really does. A
good deal of talking is done about
good roads, and that's about all.
Discussions are held daily through
out the country whenever a few
politicians come together, that the
Government should build the roads
and should take care of them. the
same as the Governments of Europe
do. The theory and practice of road
building, and it's benefits. have been
handed down from generation to
generation in most European count
ries. From their youth up the men
who were responsible for the build
ing of their country's roads acquired
the knowledge and the spirit that
enabled them to carry on the work
of their forefathers. And those of
you who have been in Europe, have
travelled perhaps, on foot, from one
city to another, or, have had glimpse
out of car window as the train
rushed by, will agree with me when
/ say that they have good roads in
every community there. The reason
is that all the roads are built by the
Government, and overseers appoint
ed by the government, for the pur-
pose of their upkeep. The over
seer is appointed for long period.
and is required to keep his section
of roads in first class condition all
the time; if not. someone else will
get his job.
OF course, you know there is a
big difference in building roads.
The question to day is: why are the
roads in this country in such poor
condition?
The answer is easy. In towns,
villages and country, the people
are allowed to work off their tax
alton on roads, and on certain days
set by the road commissioner, the tax
payers come together at certain
section, patch up the bad breaks,
and level other parts that need it,
but the first heavy rain that comes
along makes the road worse than it
was in the first place. How can
these roads be kept in condition
when there is nothing there. but sand
and mud2 No real foundation what
ever. A good road must have a
foundation.
All roads in Europe have
foundation of three feet of solid
rock closely set together, on the top
of this is leveled foot of crushed
rock-no sand or gravel is used.
When a certain section is finished.
heavy iron rollers 90 over this
section for several weeks without
stopping, no other traffic is allowed
there until the road is finished, and
when it is finished a heavy load
can be taken over that road. and
narrow wheel tires will not even
leave the tracks of the wheel.
I have seen in one of our papers
how the Minnesota State Highway
Commission has announced the
building of 10000 miles of good
roads in the next ten years. The
method of construction is as follows:
The roadbed of earth, sand and
clay is to be built up to a grade and
rounded on the top forming the
arc CT a circle with the crown on
a twenty foot road. ten inches
above the edges, ON this foundation,
a layer of gravel is to be applied.
eight inches thick in the center.
and tapering off to nothing at the
sides. The cost of building roads
as outlined here. will average a.
bout 3 1000 per mile. But, no mat
ter how much gravel you put on q
road. the iron shoes of the horses