The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1915-07-08

er than expense, wherever the money
spent is rightly spent; wherever the
Importance of the competent engin-
eer, the honest supervisor, the right
material, is recognized.
/ Special attention is called to the
last sentence of the extract above
reproduced. If a road is built in the
right place in the right way, it should
not be regarded as a tax, but as an
investment. That is what it is. 1t
/ saves expense to those who use it,
just as a modern farm implement
saves expense. The farmer buys a
reaper or a mower; improved farm
machinery, improved plows and soon
because they save expense, and in
time they pay their owner for what
| they have cost him.
A competent engineer, an honest
supervisor, and the right material are
Necessities that must be recognized.
To do without competent engineers,
and honest supervisors is as impos-
sible as it would be to maintain
schools without teachers. In the To-
cation and construction of public
roads, and in the selection of mate
rails, the services of men must be
had who know how to locate them in
the right pace, and they should have
knowledge of the material essential
in the making of good roads.
If So are spent "where 81 should
get better results" is need not be said
there is something wrong. 1t may be
result of graft, and it may not be. Be
a man ever so honest, if he is inef-
ticient, why that may be as expensive
as dishonesty. The trouble has been
that men who might be regarded as
serving an apprenticeship III
road building, have been paid the
same compensation as would be paid |
to the journeyman who had mastered |
his trade.
If capable engineers are employed,
and the services of competent super
visors are engaged, they will know
whether work being done is being
done with reference to present use,
aud likewise with reference to dura
bility. A road should be built so as to
involve the least possible expense for
future and necessary repairs.
1t may be repeated, and emphasized
that the probability is, in a majority
Of cases, where So have been spent,
where 81 should get better results, il
mas not been the result of graft, but
Of inefficiency. A good fellow may
De ever so good, and know ever so lit
tie about the proper construction Of
,oads.
1t would be an excellent thing, if
more of the people who use the roads
would acqLt themselves with the
principles of road build
ng, to the extent that they might
see for t.3mselves, when the work is
being done, whether it is being done
n the neighborhood or right.-Jour
lal and Tribune.
Blount county is now preparing to
,xpend 100000 in the construction OF
bike roads. The county has an ex {
client board of pike commissioners,
md competent engineer has been
Employed, and Blount county will gel
a dollars worth of work for a dol s
ar laid down." However, we should {
ike to emphasize the part of the E
which says that road max q
ng must be rated as an investment, {
ather than an expense" Also that
eople who use the roads acquaint l
with the fundamentals of a
Dad building.
Blount county's expenditure OF i,
100000 in good roads is one Of the +
est investments that can possibly be
lade. In the recent effort to locate y
lie Dixie Highway, special effort was y
ade to get the route to pass through II
cunt county. Travellers appreciate c.
lie excellent condition of Blount "
'unty's pixies, and one has only to =,
ISIS across the line into some of the r
Joining counties to &3alize what II
.cellent roads we have. Blount
unty'S roads were a strong argu- V,
emit in favor of the Dixie Highway ~,
ute passing us, and those who at |,
nded the meeting say that it would -
rely have been located by US had III
ere been a bridge instead of fer, st
at the crossing near Madlsonville. mr.
Jus we can see one of the great ad, a
ntages that has already come to US
om as a result Of having good roads. 10
cunt county was well advertised in III
at effort to get Dixie highway to co
netrate this county. The local ca
ard of Trade was active in the in ha
est of the town and county. -,
We believe it is the duty of the tax
yers to study the Fundamentals OF VI
ID road building. Road building is fa
luded in the curriculum of agri- CO
tural schools, because farmer az
st needs know something of how int
build good roads. The users Of
roads are those who more than ,
2 other appreciate their good or La
conditions, and certainly they lnt
'uld be more alert in seeing that vie
Its, if there be any, are remedied, TO
| a knowledge of how to remedy ~.
Sc will often prove quite worth a.