Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1922-02-25
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simmer time, when both lumber and
roads were dry and no damage was
done. A four mule load was rarity
and real heavy traffic was unknown.
What has produced the change. There
is only one answer, mine-props and
piling. The Richardson tracts, the
Peters tract and many smaller pieces
Of timber have been hauled over it
and the demand for the timber has
been greater in the winter season.
Weather and road conditions cut no
figure with the teamsters. When two
mules would not pull the load, four
were put on. When four mules
stalled, an extra pair were added, and
have counted as high as nine mules
on one load, passing my place, each
one straining every muscle, and the
wheels of the big timber cart, sway
ing and lurching like a ship at sea,
and gouging down toward China with
every revolution. No road, leastwise
no dirt road was ever meant to carry
such traffic. Green pine is exceed
ingly heavy, not many sticks being
required for a 3 to ton load, and
evenly balanced on top of four
wheels it is bad enough, but the bulk
of the load swung under the two
wheeled high timber cart with mar
rowed tires makes road destroyer
unequaled. You couldn't beat it if
you tried. No wonder that we have
been compelled to go back to the
good old timber or corduroy road of
our forefathers and we will go bump
ing through the ages to come. They
say this loosens up your liver and it
is no doubt true of our Henry Fords
as well.
Now | am going to offer some sug-
gestions. Nothing wrong or criminal
about that, is there? A cat can look
at king, can't it? And if you don't
like my suggestions and think them
no-account and foolish, just trot out
few of your own that you know
will hold water. You can do it. That
is the reason ! am writing this, to
stir you up.
Cd Who profits by this business
that tears up our roads and causes
such discomfort to the general public,
and expense to the taxpayers. In
this particular case it is half dozen
land owners, a dozen or so teamsters
and two or three timber companies.
Here, Messrs. County Commissioners
is need for tax to meet the extra eX-
pense. Timber land has a habit of
not wanting to get on the tax dupli-
cate. 1t is worth nothing, it brings
in no income, it really should not
appear on the tax books at all, and
then all of sudden we hear of a
100000, or $l0,O00.00 or even a
S5O,0O0.0O sale and then for months
or years our roads are torn up to
get il to market. A dollar an acre
year as an extra tax to go into the
road fund would be reasonable. Lii
cense the teamsters and timber COM
panies, the one lightly, the other
heavily according to the business that
is done. Let those that profit by the
business bear the brunt of the expense.
Isn't that good logic?
(2) Make the load fit the width
OF the tire or vice versa. No 8 ton
load has any business on our roads
on a q or 8 inch tire. MesSrs.
County Commissioners, have TIRE
law passed to apply to Worcester
County, AS weighing places are UNI
frequent and inconvenient | would
suggest instead that two mule load
be carried on not less than 3 inch
tire, a four mule load on inch
time, and six mule load on a a six
inch tire and enforce it with a $500
fine for first offense and increase II
each subsequent ofsense. Many
states have such laws and find them
road savers. A wide tire is a first
class road maker, while narrow
tire is good rut maker.
(3) Instead of giving the roads
of an entire district to one man to
look after, divide them into much
smaller portions. If a responsible
farmer will take the half mile or so
that borders his farm give ii to him
and pay him for his work by a re-
bate on his taxes. Give no man more
than a mile or mile and half. Let
the county with tractor and grader
round the road up in the spring and
then turn it over to the farmers
along the route. Let them see that
the water is drained away and the
road kept rounded and ruts and holes
kept filed with small grader or
even with a homemade split king
drag. Give prizes for the best kept
stretches of road in each district. |
know the farmer has enough to do
without road work, but he is the man
most vitality interested and if he
won't look after this work when he
is paid for it, he deserves to travel
through mud to his knees the bal
ance of his days. The theory that
some other man should build the far
L.. ..1t oIx,.ax.c VrOrt II