Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 January 1910 — GOOD ROADS [ARTICLE]

GOOD ROADS

A Split Loss. A few years ago a Missouri farmer named Ring became disgusted, as many a farmer has been before and since that time. With the condition of the highway between his farm and the neighboring village. He studied the situation, and one day devised a rude, contrivance to smooth the rough places and round up the surface from the ditch to the center so as to drain off the water. It was a simple affair, made of a log split Into two eqiikl parts, a few braces between them, and a chain,by wbloh the horses hauled >the drag with him upoii It. He tried It after a train, when the road was soft, and It Worked so well that Its fame, and the fame of the improved road, spread through the neighborhood, and thence 4ar and wide. That was the modest beginning and now the split-log drag, which any farmer or road commissioner can make In a few'hours. Is revolutionizing the methods of maintaining dirt roads — methods which have always been notoriously expensive and ineffective. The drag was not patented, and its Inventor, with nothing to sell, and only as a good roads enthusiast, has toured the country, telling gatherings of farmers, road commissioners and local officials the marvploua"results, both ln immediate Improvement and Jn the subsequent cheapness of maintenance, accomplished In the middle West, ithere the drag is now in general use. Indeed, ln one state, lowa, Its use on all country roads is now required by legislative enactment The great value of good roads to the agricultural interests of the country is appreciated everywhere. A comparatively small mileage of the roads can be surfaced with crushed stone or gravel, and in the cheap and effective maintenance of the prevailing dirt roads, the device, primitive In appearance, made from a split log and backed by the energy of an-intelligent Western fanner, promises to be a most Important agent.

Unlqne Good Roads Move. William Burnes, carrier for rural route N<J. 9, from Brenham, Tex., to Independence, is a strong good roads advocate and has some original Ideas about the best way to improve the roads. - Some time ago he started an independent movement to get the people along his route to help him keep the road ln good condition and asked them to form an organization, to be known as the Good Roads Association of R. F. D., No. 9, and to contribute monthly dues to such an organization to maintain a team to work on this road, dragging it with a spilt log drag or doing such other work on It as could be done by this team, he agreeing, without compensation, to superintend the work. / He sent out circulars to all the people along his route, setting forth his plans, and asked them to Join the association. On one occasion he met a large number that live along this route at Prairie Hill. The association was organized, and Mr. Burnes was elected manager, secretary and treasurer and F. W. Quebe and Carl Marcus directors.

Engllik Highway Policy. Two points in the recently proposed British bill to provide for the economic development of tho United Kingdom and the improvement of the roads therein are worthy of notice ln the United States. The program of the bill provides for special motor roads to be exclusively or chiefly for the use of motor oars, the rood board having authority to Improve existing roads or to construct new roads for that purpose. The board may acquire land for this purpose by right of eminent domain and may also acquire land adjacent thereto for a width 220 yards distant from the middle of the rdad, which land they may sell, lease or control, the increment therefrom being used for the maintenance or construction of this claae of highways.

Some Good Roods Pointers. Good roads mean as much as good crops to the farmers If macadam roads are to be maintained at their best, the sprinkling cart la a dally necessity. The longer the delay In building good roads the greater the c< st. Until produce is hauled t< market H Isn’t really produced. If the road Is poor, good birses and good vehicles oount for llttfl