52 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



ficient width than a poor one of too great width. " The width of 

 first, second, and third class roadwa3's, niaj' be given as twenty-six, 

 eighteen and a half, and thirteen feet, with a tendency during the 

 last ten years to have none, except in the vicinity of cities, wider 

 than twenty-four feet, and the rest correspondinglj^ narrower. In 

 view of the changes constantly going on in this countrj" in the value 

 and settlement of land, it would probably" be well always to lay out 

 a road fift}^ or sixty feet wide, but to build the road proper of the 

 widths above indicated."* 



Under the subject of road-building must necessaril}' be included 

 the construction of bridges. In all cases these should be built in 

 the most substantial manner, and the materials used should be 

 those which have proved to be the most durable. Even in rural 

 districts, where both stone and wood are abundant, it would often 

 be preferable to build a bridge of the former material. The first 

 cost would be larger, but its greater durability and exemption from 

 repairs would render it in the end much the most economical. 



Care should be taken to prevent any obstruction of the stream, 

 by the improper position of bridges. By neglect of this precaution 

 serious damages may be inflicted upon the neighboring lands in a 

 low country, and in high lands the bridges themselves are liable to 

 be swept awa3\ Under these latter circumstances, and in other 

 cases, the iron suspension bridge has proved the most suitable. 



Not only durability, but fitness and beauty of design should be 

 leading principles in building a bridge. It is just as economical to 

 construct one that shall give pleasure by its elegance and S3'mmetry 

 as to construct one that is uncouth and out of proportion. 



A roadway having been thoroughly constructed from the first, or 

 having been improved in the best manner possible, it is necessary 

 that it should be kept in continuous repair. And it is here that 

 mistakes are so frequently committed. Liberal sums are expended 

 by cities and towns in making perfect roads, and instead of keep- 

 ing them up to the standard by the necessary repairs at the moment 

 when needed, they are allowed to continue in a defective state, 

 until large outlays are again necessitated, and the travelling public 

 are put to much inconvenience liy the unavoidable delay attendant 

 Upon operations requiring so much labor. 



It is perfectly useless then to expect good roads at any time un- 

 less a complete surveillance is made continually, and any defects at 



* First I'rizc Essay, Mass. Agricultural Rpiioit, 18G9-70, j). 211. 



