DISCUSSION ON ROAD MAKING, 245 



viding Maine, if she asks for them, as Europe has been provided, 

 with intelligent, skilled road-builders. 



It is, indeed, high time that we ourselves ennobled the ofiSce of 

 road surveyor, that we gave up the old feudal system, with its ig- 

 norance and its waste, that we began to manage roads in conform- 

 ity to the dictates of science, approved practice and a sound 

 political economy. In some things Maine has shown herself more 

 enterprising than her sister States of New England ; why should 

 she not lead them also in the construction and maintenance of 

 country roads ? 



The Chairman. The question is open, and it is hoped that a 

 general and free discussion may take place. 



Prof. Fernald. I have listened with interest to the elaborate 

 and instructive treatise upon road making which has been read by 

 Mr. Stetson. It contains many exceedingly valuable suggestions, 

 and the topic is one in which everj^ man who has occasion to pass 

 over our country roads is deeply interested. 



There were two points in the lectui'e which seemed to me high- 

 ly philosophical, and to embody suggestions of great importance. 

 The first was that of grade. How frequently do we see roads 

 laid out over a hill, when by increasing the distance a very little, 

 the ascent might be avoided ? It has been the policy of road- 

 makers, quite largely, to make a straight road, even if they have 

 to. go over a hill. If the grade can be lessened, as has been 

 shown, the amount of power to be expended in draft is very 

 lai'gely reduced ; and here is a great point gained. 



Some observations were made in regard to the very imperfect 

 drainage of our roads. We know that in the spring and during 

 the latter part of autumn, our roads are generally in a wretched 

 condition, from imperfect drainage. If anything like a perfect 

 system of drainage could be adopted, it would improve our roads 

 to a wonderful degTce, and I hail with joy any remarks or sugges- 

 tions which may lead to this end, and I am very grateful to Mr. 

 Stetson for taking up and so elaborately treating this subject. 



Hon. A. M. Robinson. A very large amount of money is lost 

 for want of engineering skill in the building of roads. That is 

 one difficulty, lying at the base of the matter ; but there is another 

 one, which always struck me as more serious, and that is, the 

 utter indifference with which the community view the subject. 

 The general idea is, that anybody can build a road. That is the 



