LECTURES AND ESSAYS. 391 



ner. But as we have the present system to work under, we will discuss it 

 from that standpoint. 



In the first place the poll-tax ought to be repealed or more efficient laws 

 for the collection of the same should be enacted ; for all pathmasters know 

 that it is at present a dead letter, as it is impossible to collect it of those 

 who have no property. 



Some States have very stringent laws in reference to it. In Colorado the 

 poll-tax is $4 and for non-payment a fine of 8100 or 60 days in the county jail. 

 Would it not be well to have the poll-tax $5 and some stringent laws for its 

 collection? 



THE ROAD BED. 



It should be straight, of as little grade as possible, wide enough for teams 

 to pass, of a gentle oval cross section, so that the water will run off at the 

 sides, instead of lengthwise. There should also be an open ditch or gutter 

 on each side so the water can run off; all stone and rubbish should be 

 removed from one outside line of the road to the other. All weeds and grass 

 should be kept mowed, all obnoxious weeds, such as burdock, Canada thistles, 

 daisies, etc., should be rooted out. Culverts and bridges should be made of 

 iron and stone ; they will last longer and are just as cheap. 



HOW TO MAKE A ROAD. 



I make it with a road scraper ; I would not discuss the making of one in 

 any other way, any more than the harvesting a crop of wheat with the 

 ancient sickle, because it is impracticable. I first stake out where I want the 

 center of the road-bed, then plow two furrows six feet from the line of the 

 stakes, turning the furrows toward the stakes and two furrows four feet 

 from the stakes on the other side, then follow with the road scraper, scraping 

 the first two furrows just to the line of the stakes, and the other two so they 

 will partly lap over on the first two, avoiding making a ridge or cone ; then 

 plow two more furrows and scrape them just up to the others, and so on 

 until the road-bed is as wide as desired, which should be at least 20 feet from 

 one gutter to the other, then harrow thoroughly, picking up all stone and 

 rubbish, and finish with the roller, leaving the gutters well cleaned out, so 

 that no water will stand in them. As said before, have the road-bed a gentle 

 oval, not too sidling. 



If one wishes to make a complete road, gravel the clay parts, or, if gravel 

 is not to be had, haul sand on the clay and clay on the sandy parts. One 

 would be surprised what a good road can be made on a very sandy place by 

 a layer of clay being put on it. Two men, a team and scraper, and one 

 man, team and plow can easily grade one mile a day. I then run the scraper 

 over the road a number of times in the spring to keep the ruts filled. 



DISCUSSION ON ROADS. 



The last two papers were presented at the Flint Institute, and between 

 them, a paper on the same subject by Mr. A. L. Aldrich, which will be 

 found printed on page 103 of the report of the Board of Agriculture 

 for 1884, in which Mr. Aldrich contended strenuously that highway 

 taxes, like other taxes, should be paid in money, and that all road work 



