Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-07-30
COUNTRY ROADS

At this stage of our progress, and in this section ~
the country, no argument is needed to prove that good
country roads are of vast importance to a community ST.
MUCH goes without saying. 1t is worth while. however
to remind ourselves occasionally of the fact that the con.
dition of the wagon roads has an important bearing or
the manner in which the effort of the nation in the wa,
is to be made effective, and that what was at one time a
matter of personal convenience, or at most of local com.
munity interest, is now a matter of national duty. Every
America is a step toward the defeat of militaristn and a
direct aid to. the making of the world "safe for democra.
cy."
The well-kept dirt road. such as is possible with the
clay of the Red River valley, is, in dry weather, one of
the finest roads on earth. We have yet to see a dirt road
which will stand up in wet weather under heavy traffic
Il Is possible however, to build a dirt road in such form
ana to keep 1t in such condition, that the effect of the
weather on it will be slight and that it will be hard and
smooth except for very brief periods.
Persons driving to and from Grand Forks during
the past week, when heavy showers were frequent, had
occasion to note what proper form and care will do for a
read. The ideal earth road is thatswhich is we'll graded
above the adjoining level, which is fairly we'll crowned
which has no shoulders at the sides to catch water, and
which is dragged promptly after each rain in order to
remove all traces of ruts. A road of this character sheds
water, dries quickly, and needs little dragging unless it
NaAHo " 1oAi VI thereafter. n SuCN
cases one trip with a drag will usually smooth out the
shallow ruts and restore the road to perfect condition
The merit Of the gravel road has>been pretty thor
oughly demonstrated. On Sunday, when, after the del
uges Of the previous day and evening, every flat earth
road was a bog, and even the high graded earth roads
were sticky and slippery until after several hours of sun
shine and wind, every. gravel road leading out Of the CITY
which had been built long enough to- assume anything
like its ultimate form, was like a well-paved street.
The future wagon road Of the Red River valley will
be the graveled road. OF that there can be no doubt. A
few years ago the general crawling Of our country roads
was thought to be out Of the question because Of the long
haul involved in SO many cases. But the excellence of
the gravel treatment has been so thoroughly demonstrat-
ed, and the work is already SO well under way, that there
will be no let up until the whole country is interlaced
with these gravel-surfaced roads. The main trunk roads
will naturally receive attention first, and then, little by
little. as local needs are recognized and local enterprise
asserts itself. the cross roads will follow. One of these
days the authorities of some township will come forward
with the announcement that every public highway in
their township has been properly graded, drained and
graveled, and that township will be advertised as the
foremost good roads township in the northwest.