1868. 



NEW ENGLAOT) FARMER. 



475 



MANAGEMENT OF KOADS. 



NLESS there is 

 considerable 

 wealth in the 

 neighborhood, 

 we cannot ex- 

 pect the inhabi- 

 tants will be 

 able to con- 

 struct highways 

 of the best 

 '"A/1^^ "'""'"■ — quality. The 



^w^- ■^S^F^SSi first cost of the 



best style of 

 roads would be 

 thought too 

 much for coun- 

 try towns where 

 the population is widely scattered and rftt over 

 wealiby. 



Another reason, too, will prevent most 

 towns from attempting to make such smooth, 

 bard roads as some large towns make, as they 

 have not the material at hand. A hill cannot 

 be found by the road-side every mile, from 

 which can be taken all the gravel needed, of a 

 quality that will pack solid, wear smooth and 

 last long. But deficiencies in this matter 

 make it all the more necessary to exercise a 

 wise skill, both in making and keeping roads 

 in repair. A system should be adopted that 

 would employ the best talent and use the best 

 material within a reasonable distance of the 

 place where it is needed. Knowledge and 

 skill in the management of roads are as essen- 

 tial as good material. A man who knows how 

 will make a fair road with inferior gravel, 

 while an ignorant and careless one will almost 

 inevitably misuse the best. 



In order to obtain the best skill for this 

 work, we are decidedly of the opinion that we 

 must give up our present mode of managing 

 the roads. It is poor policy to put this im- 

 portant matter in the hands of seven or eight 

 persons, some of whom will be quite likely to 

 have no qualifications for the business, except 

 a pair of oxen or horses, and a willingness to 

 neglect their regular business for the sake of 

 earning a little ready cash ; while others assume 

 the ofllce unwillingly, because their neighbors 

 say, "they must take their turn." Of course, 

 there are some who have better qualifications, 

 and honestly and earnestly endeavor to do the 

 best they know how. It is undoubtedly true 



of this, as of all other kinds of work, that 

 experience improves a man's natural ability 

 and skill, and will enable him to work more 

 economically as well as more efBciently. The 

 experienced worker knows better what to do, 

 when to do, and how to do it. 



Under the present system, m most cases a 

 green hand, or at least a fresh hand, takes 

 hold every year, and works away, patching a 

 little here and a little there, with no attempt 

 to carry out any general system of permanent 

 improvement, uses up the money allowed to 

 his district, and then gladly gives place to his 

 successor. And so, year by year, our roads 

 are about as likely to become worse as better. 



It is not necessary to suppose, because our 

 roads remain without improvement, that every 

 highway surveyor is incompetent under this 

 system. We believe the system itself is faulty, 

 in that it neither demands skill nor gives en- 

 couragement or opportunity for its acquisition. 

 The actual question to be solved at our town 

 meetings often is, not who is best qualified for 

 this oflice, but who can be persuaded to accept 

 it? 



Now it seems to us that the eflfectual remedy 

 for this state of things is to give the whole 

 charge, the entire responsibility of expending 

 whatever sums of money the town may choose 

 to raise for highway purposes, to one compe- 

 tent superintendent. He should be a man 

 whose honesty is without suspicion, and one 

 who, if he does not already know enough of 

 the science and practice of road ihaking and 

 road repairing, yet has sufficient common sense 

 and ambition to learn how to fulfil the duties 

 of the office in the best way. When such a 

 man is found, keep him in the place just as 

 long as he will serve. Let him make a few 

 blunders if he must ; that should be expected 

 in the beginning. It takes a year or two to 

 develop a man's skill and energy in a new busi- 

 ness. But even at first, he will not be likely 

 to make so many mistakes as can be detected 

 winder the present management. With every 

 years' added experience, his system will be- 

 come defined ; he will improve his practices, 

 and by and by we may hope to have roads that 

 will be a good deal smoother, and that will 

 not so frequently need to be repaired. In- 

 deed, our main roads, on which the chief part 

 of our travel and heavy teaming is done, 

 should be kept in such condition that there 



