ROADS AND BRIDGES 351 



in these special cases, where the letter of the law would 

 not allow the road officials to take the entire responsibility 

 of the expense of improving a roadway which has not 

 been legally acquired by the public. These ford roads 

 should not be too narrow and should be properly marked 

 by means of tall posts near the ends, so that in times of 

 high water, passers can avoid leaving the line of the 

 grade and getting into the soft earth on either side. 



Roadside weeds, if allowed to ripen, are a nuisance to 

 the farm and a nuisance to the public, and withal are 

 obnoxious to an otherwise beautiful country. The pub- 

 lic should encourage the farmer to keep the weeds down. 

 As to whether the law should require the farmer to keep 

 the roadside reasonably free from obnoxious plants, or 

 whether the road officials should be required to look 

 after all roads systematically the care of which is not 

 assumed by farmers in growing crops upon them, there 

 is some question. As a rule, public property should be 

 managed in such an exemplary manner that a good 

 example is set for the citizens, and the road officials 

 should be held responsible for keeping the roadway clean 

 of weeds. While the expense would seem considerable, 

 systematic care of the roads by public officials would 

 doubtless pay. If the public would thoroughly assume 

 this responsibility, the roads could be so constructed 

 that banks and grades could be rounded down, seeded 

 to grasses and then be mowed and kept in neat condition 

 by the use of machinery. Since the general advent of 

 wire fences, there is far less excuse for weedy roadsides 

 than when the old-time zig-zag rail fences were com- 

 mon. The use of the mowing machines and a seeding 

 of such grasses as Kentucky blue grass and Bermuda 

 grass will give little chance for weeds. 



Roadside trees and hedges add greatly to the beauty 

 of a country, and the public should encourage land- 

 owners to plant and care for them. In many instances 



