558 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



such as local prejudices and interests, and political strife and rivalry in the election or choice 

 of the officers suggested, by which the best interests of the public might in some cases be 

 sacrificed to party intrigues. 



It will be noticed that this plan insures a constant oversight over all the roads, and this, 

 after the roads are once properly constructed, is unquestionably the best economy, and costs 

 less, in a series of years, than that of semi-annual repairs. It is the only way, in fact, by 

 which a road can be kept constantly in good condition. 



Now, after all, as we have stated, the plans which have been suggested are what might 

 be called only half-way measures, which might be adopted as modifications of the present 

 system, with the understanding that the fundamental principle which underlies them all, and 

 which is based on the truest and most far-sighted economy, is &quot; to sacrifice a portion of the 

 resources of the road, or the money raised for roads, to insure the good and judicious employ 

 ment of the remainder.&quot; 



A far better plan, it seems to me, is that suggested in one of the prize essays on this 

 subject, published by the Massachusetts Board of Agriculture: 



&quot;For the efficient and economical maintenance of the public roads, it is essential that 

 there be a uniform system of management common to the whole State. The first step 

 towards a complete reform of system would be the creation of a State department of roads 

 and bridges, to have general charge of all the roads, to arrange and direct the carrying out 

 of the details, and generally to look to the effective working of the system. 



The chief of the department should be a practical civil engineer, thoroughly conversant 

 with the art of road-making. For the purposes of proper supervision, the State might be 

 divided into districts, say by counties, and these again into sub-districts, larger or smaller, as 

 might be found expedient. 



There should be a resident engineer or superintendent for each district, to have charge 

 and oversight of the roads and bridges within his district, and to be held accountable to the 

 chief of the department. 



He will ascertain the condition of the roads in his district, determine what improvements 

 are to be made, and in what order, decide upon the kinds and amount of work to be done, 

 estimate the sums needed to carry it on, and at stated periods report the same, with all the 

 matters pertaining to his office, to the chief of the department. 



For each sub-district there will be required an assistant-engineer or road-master, subor 

 dinate to the resident of the district, to manage the working details within the limits assigned. 

 As the improvements progress, these sub-districts may be enlarged and the number of subor 

 dinates reduced, so that each and all shall always have work enough to keep them occupied.&quot; 



FARM ROADS. 



BOADS leading from one part of the farm to another are a great convenience, and 

 the benefits derived from them amply repay for the labor and expense of their 

 ^ construction. Those farmers who do not have them are apt to drive their teams all 

 over their lands wherever they have occasion to go, the result of which is that the mowing 

 and grain fields are thus badly cut up by wheel-tracks, and the treading of the team. Where 

 heavy loads are to be drawn, it is much easier for a team to have a firm, substantial 

 road on which to draw them, and much more labor can be accomplished in a given time 

 by this means; besides, when the soil is softened by the rains, it is difficult to draw heavy 

 loads, and hence, aside from the injury done the lands, much more labor and time will be 

 required in transferring produce and other material from one point to another, without good 



