CHAPTER VIII 

 COUNTRY ROADS AND ROADSmE IMPROVEMENTS 



It is often said that the condition of the roads in any 

 community is an ''index of the intelHgence of its people"; 

 and while this may not be wholly true, the roads are an 

 index of their thrift and prosperity, for without good roads 

 frequent and easy communication cannot be had, farm 

 crops and manufactured products cannot be taken to 

 market at the same cost on poor as on good roads, because 

 of increased time required for transportation, and the 

 greater wear and tear of horses and carriages. Then there 

 is little pleasure or comfort in riding over muddy, rough, 

 and unkept roads. 



In many sections the amount of money appropriated for 

 the constuction and repair of roads is suflScient to keep 

 them in good condition, but this money is often expended 

 with such poor judgment as to leave a large part of the 

 roads practically uncared for. The work, too, is often let 

 out to parties who know nothing of the principles of road- 

 making, or whose greatest care is to make as much profit 

 from the work as possible. 



The Conditions Necessary for a Good Road 



To construct a good road three things are necessary, viz., 

 (i) ivell-undcrdrained soil, (2) a good foundation, and (3) 

 good road material for the surface. 



I. In ordinary road-making very little attention is given 

 even to surface-draining, much less to underdraining, 



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