124 LECTURE 



strongly set forth in the prospectus of every new railroad project, and 

 are familiar to all ; but, somewhat strangely, while we have covered 

 our countiy with these iron ways, we have the doubtful honor of having 

 the very worst common roads of any civilized country on the globe. 

 This is probably owing to two reasons : first, that the railroads which 

 were introduced just at the time when our public improvements were 

 being projected, naturally absorbed all attention to the exclusion of 

 other means of communication ; and secondly, that there has been a 

 lamentable deficiency of the information and education necessary to 

 insure the successful location and construction of common roads among 

 those to whom they have been intrusted. 



In Europe, where perfect roads were needed long before the iron 

 way was invented, an amount of money and thought had been ex- 

 pended in making roads which strikes the American traveler with 

 astonishment. He finds that as much labor and care have been be- 

 stowed upon common roads in the old world as have been by us upon 

 our railroads. 



It is much to be hoped that as the necessary information is diffused 

 throughout the country, our common roads will improve in condition, 

 especially since, in many cases, such improvement is attended with 

 economy in first cost, in working, and in maintenance, and will only 

 require a little more expenditure of thought and care in the planning 

 and execution. 



The principles involved in the location and construction of roads 

 are few, simple,, and unchangeable ; and a little attention paid to them 

 by road makers would prevent the mistakes which are so painfully 

 apparent to every traveler. 



The subject of road making is divided into two parts : location and 

 construction; the art of locating a road being that of determining and 

 tracing on the ground the best line for the road to follow — of construc- 

 tion, that of preparing the road bed for the traffic which is to pass 

 over it. 



In the very simplest case that can be imagined, that of a foot path 

 to connect two places situated on a smooth plain, no location would be 

 necessary beyond marking the path in some way, so that the direction 

 could be kept by the traveler ; but such a very simple case could 

 rarely occur, and as the difficulties increase we must find means to 

 overcome them. 



As a general rule, a foot path may be led over almost any obstacles, 

 for an experienced mountaineer can ascend nearly perpendicular cliffs, 

 especially when aided by even the most simple appliances, such as 

 ladders, ropes, or notched logs. The famous "Path of Ladders" at 

 the Baths *of Loesche, in Switzerland, is an example of a foot path of 

 the rudest description. These baths are situated in a deep valley sur- 

 rounded with perpendicular cliffs, and the only way by which they can 

 be reached is by passing almost perpendicularly down the cliff by 

 means of ladders fastened to the face of the rock. 



Since we rarely find a plain, but usually a surface more or less un- 

 dulating, we must be able to locate our road to the best advantage 

 upon it. Although upon the map a straight line between two points 

 seems to be the shortest, we shall find, when we come to examine it 



