200 THE FARMER AS A BUSINESS MAN. 



The farmers can, however, if they will, stop mucli of the 

 waste of road money now permitted. They can stop the farce 

 of " working out" the road tax, still too common. In ray time, 

 when we were "warned out," the resolute, ambitious men 

 brought mattocks; the reasonably thoroughgoing sort brought 

 shovels, and the rest of us took hoes. The hoes were always 

 in a majority, and it is doubtless the case still. When road 

 taxes are paid in money, a resolute public opinion can prevent 

 its waste. The surest way to do this is to let the care of tlie 

 road by contract, for a term of years, under specifications care- 

 fully drawn. This can always be had, in rural districts, by 

 farmers, but only after a battle royal with the small politicians. 



Of course I do not propose to deal with methods of road 

 building, but I can not forbear saying one or two things: The 

 first steps in road improvement must be to perfect the align- 

 ment and gradients, remembering that the road is to be traveled 

 for thousands of years. We at least owe it to our posterity to 

 put the roads where they belong. The next step is thorough 

 drainage, with permanent stone or tile culverts, and culverts 

 and fills in the place of small bridges. These are the first 

 steps towards building stone roads, which may come later, on 

 the same foundation. When that is done, proceed according 

 to the wealth of the community and the requirements of the 

 traffic. A community which knows how to do so much will 

 never fail in the rest. 



Whether or not it will pay to incur debt for road improve- 

 ment can be determined only by cold-blooded calculation on 

 the volume of traffic. It will never pay to do it for any specu- 

 lative motive. There must be a plain saving on the existing 

 volume of traffic, sufficient, with a wide margin of safety, to 

 pay interest. The total outgo of the individual citizen must 

 be decreased by it, unless the community expects to incur debt 

 for comfort, what, usually, it ought not to do. 



The question of state aid — which means the aid of the 

 people of cities, and others who are not likely to travel much 

 upon the improved roads — involves various equities which I 

 have not space to discuss. Wliere the disposition to extend such 

 aid exists, it is evidence of a noble public spirit. Disregarding 



