Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1915-10-08
COUNTY NEWS
First Monday at Halifax. Three
Board Meetings. Good Roads
Address by Mr.. D. H. Winslow.
Special Roads Election in
Littleton Township

Last Monday was first Monday
and therefore was the date fol
the monthly meetings of the
Board of County Commissioners,
the Good Roads Commission anC
the County Board of Education.
The County Commissioners
transacted only routine business,
excepting the granting of peti.
ton for the purpose of holding
a special election for a bond issue
for Good Roads for LittIeton
Township.
The feature of the day was
unquestionably the address of
Mr., D. H. Winslow, Superinten-
dent of Construction of the
United States Office of Public
Roads. Quite a gratifying
audience was present at the ad-
dress which was delivered in the
Courthouse at noon.
Mr.. Winslow's subject was the
Maintenance of Roads. The
meeting was called to order by
Jno. l.. Patterson, Chairman of
the Good Roads Commission, and
the speaker was introduced by
Mr.. Geo G. Green. Mr.. Win
slows address was very inter
esting and instructive and he
presented many good ideas con
cerning the maintenance of roads.
He drew the distinction very
clearly between the construction,
repair and maintenance of roads.
The latter means simply to keep
the road in the condition in
which it was built. He suggest
ed as the best method of main
tanning roads to employ patrol
men to have charge of different
sections varying in length ac-
cording to the amount of travel
and the character of the road
and suggested the following in
structions to patrolmen,
Inspect your road, its entire
section during a rainy day and
locate all pond holes.
Use the road drag immediate
ly after a rain.
Fill all depressions with good
material.
On no account use worn out
material, sod or sand from ditch
eS.
Remove all glass, tin cans,
nails, old iron, etc, from the
road bed.
Renew all defective p anks at
culverts when necessary,
Should your road surface be
very rough, a spike toothed har-
row used while the road is wet
will improve an earth, sand
clay, top-soil or gravel surface.
Cut the weeds both sides of the
road, Use a moving machine
for this purpose if practical.
Cut all brush at inside of the
curves and at railway crossings
and culverts.
Remove the ridge between the
wheel rut and the gutter by us
ing the one-horse cultivator and
then use the drag to push the
material toward the ditch.
See that all culverts are clear,
with outlets and inlets in good
order.
Paint all guard rails at culverts
and bridges, etc.
Renew all signboards, mile
posts, etc, when necessary and
give the travelling public all the
advice in regard to the routes
within your power.
See that all labor and teams in
your employ render full and sat
iIfactory service.
Receive all information and
criticism from the general public
in courteous manner.
In addition to his address on
the maintenance subject, Mr.
Winslow discussed the question
of the relation of the child to i'm
proved highways, apI ealing to the
fathers.in the rural sections for
their cooperation for the health
and future life of the child. He
also reviewed the effect of i'm
proved highways on the lives of
women in the rural section and
the duty of the county in building
improved highways in behalf of
these women who struggle hard
for existence with very few plea