Grand Forks daily herald., 1916-05-25
GOOD ROADS

GOOD ROADS
The subject of good roads Is one
Of the most important before the pub.
lie and, because 1t is, the consider
alton now being given it by the Com
mercial club is both wise and timely.
The decision of the directors of the
club to devote to the cause of good
roads larger part Of the funds at
their disposal than has ever been done
before. The address Of Mr.. Loring OF
Crookston, at the club dinner on Tues
day evening was both interesting and
instructive. and Governor Hanna made
an important contribution in his dis
cussion OF the subject in the light Of
the special conditions prevailing in
| this state.
| Mr.. Loring used a. the basis Of his
remarks information gained as the
result Of practical experience in q field
| whose natural conditions are in every
way similar to our own. Crookston
has done splendid work for the cause
Of good roads, and the results Of that
work are visible in excellent high
ways radiating in every direction from
that city. The leesons that have been
learned there should be needed by our
own people in the treatment Of their
roads. Among other things, Mr.. Lor-
Ing emphasized the following:
Gravel should not be applied to
newly constructed grades. or to road
beds imperfectly rounded up and com
pached.
Perfect drainage is a prime requi-
site.
The gravel road should not be per-
mitted to rut. otherwise water will
seep through and destroy the founda-
tion. The drag should be used often
enough to prevent rutting ~,--f-. -e...s
The heavy drag, drawn by tractor,
Is infinitely better than the light drag
drawn by horses.
Governor Hanna reiterated his for
mer suggestion in favor OF a bond is-
sue for the construction Of good roads,
and the retirement of these bonds by
the devotion Of part of the automo-
bile license fund to this purpose. This
seems like good business There would
thus be introduced into our road work
the element of uniformity and of CEN
tral control which it lacks now. and
without which little of permanent VAL
ue can be achieved.
1t may be suggested, also. that in
all road legislation, state or national,
provision should be made for the OK
penditure Of money in a given locality
only on condition that the local au-
thorities contribute funds toward con.
struction and maintenance, and that
all work be done according to specifi.
cations prepared by competent road
engineers
A good deal is being said Just nov
In discussions Of federal taxation and
expenditure Of what is called pork.
The word is used to describe the need.
less and unwise expenditure Of none,
on local enterprises. These project.
include work on useless drainage ant
harbor projects and the erection o,
needless public buildings. All thes,
things are to be frowned on. But al
expenditures On local Improvement,
is not pork" nor is 1t all to bs con.
demned. Some public buildings an
needed. and their construction IL q
wise economy Money is properly te
be used on needed haHbor and simila,
work. And the expenditure Of fedora
money In such manner az to brinl
results in road improvements Is equal.
ly wise and commendable. The tes,
Of the wisdom Of any expenditure 1,
whether or not it gives the public 70.
suits proportionate to the expenditure
Experience all over, the country hal
shown that good roads are.prac4ical.
ly unattainable in localities whore th>
work depends entirely on local sxpsn.
diture and is under local control 10.
cal bodies, notably township authori.
ties. are reluctant TO rehnquish- con<ro
Of their road making. This has beer
shown repeatedly In the opposition II
our legislature to attempts to provide
for moro general control Of ths
roads. But It has also been showr
that loohi authorities arc apt 70 -.
sponA readily whom action, On tksl,
rsst wiu rssuk In the szpsnditure oi
general funds within their di.tric4s
Hence, IL the expenditure Of fsdsra
money on national trunk roaAs, sant
/ susllilsliu - - -. e.