Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 April 1894 — Good Roads Without Stones. [ARTICLE]

Good Roads Without Stones.

Colman's Rural World. The advantage of properly built and well maintained dirt roads seems to have been largely overlooked in the movement for the improvement of our country roads, and it has been said, with some reason, that the movement in favor of good roads lias been hampered to some extent by a somewhat .too enthusiastic advocacy of broken stone roads, either ipacadam or telford. The cost of such stone roads is absolutely prohibitive of their adoption in many parts of the country where, perhaps, improved roads are urgently needed. Comparatively little is said about dirt roads in the discussion on improved construction, but it is certain that very excellent roads may be made of earth by a proper system of construction. Both surface drainage and sub-drainage are essential in obtaining a durable road, and intelligent maintenance is another essential, which latter is rather difficult to insure. The mere dumping of piles of earth in wet spots or low places is not maintenance, but is a waste of energy due to carelessness or misdirected zeal. With a good dirt road once completed, it would probably be found economical and advantageous to intrust its maintenance to (a few skilled and intelligent men paid for their services, instead of leaving the maintenance to the spasmodic attention of the farmers and their hired men.