Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-11-03
Good Roads Department
Conducted Especially for the Banner by Hon. =
T. Colgrove, President of the Michigan
Good Roads Association.
A Few Taylorisms That Are Well
To Remember

A Few Taylorisms That Are Well
To Remember
When in doubt consult a well-known
contractor with years of experience.
The service test is the one which
should be applied to all road and
street material.
Grades of over six per cent should
not have a smooth surface.
A little common "horse sense" is a
good thing to mix with specifications.
The man who is never criticized or
gets knock, isn't worth a penny to
the road improvement.
Get the sod and vegetable matter
off the surface of the road before
you scarify it.
Roads and streets fit for travel 365
days in the year won't mix with poll
tics.
If road weeds are left to go to seed,
they constitute genuine menace to
the adjacent farms.
During the spring months even
dirt road, by the use Of drag, can
be made thing of JOY for those who
travel.
The chief purpose and aim of main
tenance is to prevent ruts and chuck
holes.
1t is a great pity that the pioneer
road builders could not foresee the
advent of the motor vehicle. Had
they been able to do so, they might
have builded better for today.
At no other time in the history of
the human race have the Importance
and the economic advantages Of i'm
proved roads been felt as they are to-
day.
What a mistake to construct
good, serviceable road and then let it
go back to the nearly impossible for
the want Of few dollars a mile for
Too often street and road officials
are controlled by enthusiasm, ambi-
ton, ignorance, prejudice, or greed,
and not by experience, knowledge or
true judgment.
A good, reliable, and experienced
will always advise the use
of frst-class material because his
interest is in efficiency and his own
reputation.
Every roadway should be properly
graded and ditched before an ounce
of material is placed upon it.
An inspection of the roads any
where and everywhere will disclose
the fact that good roads are more
matter Of proper maintenance than OF
initial construction.
Improved roads and streets repre-
sent a big part of tangible wealth of
a community, and in great and very
way are largely employed
in the production of wealth.
In order to render maximum serv-
ice, state highway departments should
be given some measure of control over
the construction and maintenance of
local roads.
The question of improved roads is
a cold, sane hardheaded proposition, |
and should be taken up and carried !
through to a completion by the proper |
authorities without loss of time.
Some tight wads" watering in the
mud, think improved roads and streets |
should be like some peoples idea of |
,alvatios.-FREE.
The agitation of a systematic
method of keeping roads in good /
condition is increasing rapidly. Keep /
t up. Don't let it stop.
What the people want is smooth
surface, and when the surface Of
'oad is smooth the people never stop
o inquire what the road is made of.
The Importance of quick repair is
'ealized by not only state highway
departments but by the daily users
# public roads.
The people want substantial roads
md not those OF the political type.
1t is strange that those responsible
annot appreciate that it is almost a
rhine to permit the old roads, with
IN abundance of materials, to be cut
o pieces and go to waste for want
# repair and maintenance.
Show the people that they are 60
ng to get dollars worth Of roads
or every hundred cents to be ex-
,ended and they will arrange for the
money just as fast as taxing limita-
ions will permit.
One of the greatest mistakes in
Dad building is that many townships
nd counties decline to cooperate
With their neighboring townships and
ounties in the extension and building
f connecting and through highways.