The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-05-05

on earth, gravel and macadam roads,
and II stands to reason that the
growing OF trees along the public
roads would remove In degree this
menace. In England, where the nu-
mildly Is great and the annual
amount OF sunshine rather low, trees
are not desired along roads because
they tend to keep them too moist;
but In most parts OF the United States
trees are desirable because they
would prevent the roads from be-
coming too dry.
Then there is the idea OF beauty
which should appeal to the feeblest
artistic sense. The roads most trav-
elled In foreign lands and the scenes
most attractive in our own country
are the tree-shaded thoroughfares de-
signed for use but
Adorned with Beauty
and the great sylvan aolitudes where
the hills and valleys are clothed with
forests. Look at the condition Of the
roadsldes along any OF the public
highways in this country and con-
trast II with what II might readily
be II the tangle OF weeds and under
brush were only cut away and in their
places trees we're planted for both
use and beauty. Compare the aver
age good highway with the average
good railway The highway and the
railway are much the same in struc-
tural form, each consisting OF a we'll
drained foundation supporting a mass
OF broken stone or gravel carrying
the wearing service, In the one case
iron rails and in the other some
smooth covering. The great differ
ence between the good railway and
the good highway Is not in these
particulars. however. but in the care
with which the remainder of the
right Of way is guarded. The officers
OF the railway charged with the
maintenance Of the road are required
to do the things that would reduce
this cost to the minimum. They
keep the right of way clear of OBJ
structions that would interfere with
the safe operation of the trains, they
keep the bitches at the side of the
tracks clear so that the roadbed
might night be undermined by stand
ing water, they keep the slopes of
the roadway trimmed so that weak
places might not develop under COW
err OF dangerous vegetable growth.
On the other hand the bitches along
the highways receive practically no
attention. They are supposed to keep
the roadway drained but as a rule,
or In the main. they are cluttered
with weeds and brush or caving banks
to the great injury OF the roads and
the increased cost OF maintenance.
Wise Provision.
The state Of Illinois has not made
a record in highway improvement OF
which 1t could be justly proud; but it
has made at. least one wise proyis-
ion in its highway laws requiring the
road authorities to keep the road
sides clear of weeds which are a
menace to agriculture and a serious
drain upon the funds available for
road construction. The railroads
have found by experience that it is
true economy to keep their roadsides
in good condition; the managers of
the public highways would find 1t
profitable to emulate this example.
If fifty years experience in railway
maintenance of way can teach any
thing to fifteen years experience with
expensive types of highways, it is that
more attention should be paid to the
care and maintenance of the road
sides. With the less expensive and
less durable types of roads as with
the more expensive and lasting types
the only safe rule is the rule of Wig
lance and care.