. SAYING OF HORSE-FLESH. 263 



" the heaviest part of our highway tax is no doubt that which is 

 levied upon us by the destruction of horseflesh, the impeding of 

 public travel, the wear of vehicles, and the increased cost of trans- 

 portation over our poor roads." That, while over a bad road " there 

 is required in tractive force one-eighth the load," over a properly 

 made one is " required only one forty-fifth the weight of the load 

 in tractive force." " If we encourage with good roads, we shall 

 speedily derive thei-efrom a great and permanent advantage." 

 " Can any measure be more likely to increase the popularity of our 

 town, or add to its population, than to construct roads as solid, 

 smooth and perfect as the nature of the case will admit ? " 



But space will not allow us to quote the demonstrations of the 

 report. The public will have durable and smooth roads when it 

 has been pointed out that roads which are cut up and undermined 

 for more than half the year are had roads ; that what is spent in 

 making good roads, under the superintendence of an accomplished 

 civil engineer, is saved ten times over in horseflesh and carriages ; 

 and that by proper building of roadways, by under-draining and 

 macadamizing and rolling, we can have roads worthy of the name 

 even in frosty New England. The irrepressible Yankee builds the 

 best carriages, and breeds superior horses : what a pity it is he can- 

 not make roads for them to travel on that will not wrench the 

 former apart before the gloss is ofi" the panels, or lame the latter by 

 springholes, ruts and stones. The fact stands, however, that Amer- 

 icans are behind all civilized nations in the art of road makine:. 

 Will you continue to call the attention of your readers to this mel- 

 ancholy but true statement, in order that you may share the proud 

 eminence occupied by the great Highland road maker, of whom it 

 is sung : — 



" Had you seen these roads before they were made, 

 You would hold up your bauds and bless Marshall Wade ? " 



Stjbukbanus. 



