56 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



most economical, and b}^ far the most satisfactoiy to every traveller, 

 as well as tax-payer, in the community. 



But we cannot hope for a general and radical improvement in 

 the condition of our highways, until the laws respecting the same are 

 amended. There must be a uniform system of management 

 throughout the commonwealth, and this might be effected by the 

 adoption of a plan similar to the following, of which we give a 

 mere outline : 



First, there should be created a state department of roads and 

 bridges, at the head of which should be a practical civil engineer, 

 thoroughly educated, and entirely conversant with that construction 

 and management of roads which experience has taught older nations 

 to be in every wa^- the best. Next, the state should be divided 

 into districts, to each of which should be appointed a supervisor, 

 who should be responsible to the chief for the proper management 

 of affairs within his limits. The roads throughout the state would 

 thus receive uniform attention, and ever}' town would gain the benefit 

 to be derived from the most improved and cost!}- machinery, which is 

 now limited to a few of the largest that can afford to purchase it, 

 while the best material could be used wherever found, without 

 regard to boundaries of towns. 



Wood, iron, stone, and asphalt, are materials which are also 

 used for road surfaces, but as the}' are better adapted to the paving 

 of city streets, we shall have no occasion to discuss their relative 

 value in these pages. 



Modern improvement demands that all suburban roads, and 

 those of thickly populated districts in the country, should be 

 provided with sidewalks or foot-paths, and that they should be 

 well lighted. The sidewalks, in all cases, should be constructed 

 with reference to proper drainage, and the materials used should be 

 those which are found to be the most suitable and easily obtained 

 in the immediate neighborhood. In suburban districts bricks or 

 stone flagging may be found the most durable, and therefore the 

 most economical. Asphalt has seemed, thus far, to answer a good 

 purpose, and possesses some advantages. But the sidewalk or 

 foot-path, which is most applicable to our country roads, is con- 

 structed of small stones as a foundation, with gravel as surface, 

 and rolled hard and very smooth. Of whatever material they are 

 made, they should be considered as a necessary adjunct to the 

 road-bed, and kept in continuous repair. 



