Highways. 201 
HIGHWAYS. 
BY WILLIAM BACON. 
And what, say some of our brothei* farmers, has highways to do 
with agriculture; much more, why should they furnish topics for 
agricultural papers? We certainly know enough about that mat- 
ter. When the time comes round, we work out our taxes, and 
thus make the roads very passable, and that is the end of the mat- 
ter, unless they are filled with huge drifts, when " we break 
through," or, if the drifts are too large, in which case we go 
through the fields, until they settle so that we can pass over them 
safely. 
W^e admit all the above to be fact, so far as making, and re- 
pairing, and breaking out roads are concerned; but we do not 
subscribe to the creed that they have nothing to do with agricul- 
ture, or agricultural papers; but on the contrary, in our opinion, 
the two are very nearly associated, and the organ of the one forms 
the very channel of communication through which the claims of 
the other should be urged most strongly. 
Good roads — what a luxury they afford to the traveler, the man 
of business, or the pleasure seeking public; what a convenience 
to the teamster, who moves along almost unconsciously over 
their smooth and well-finished surface! what a contrast to the up 
and down, corduroy affairs, which are, even in this age of improve- 
ment, too often to be met with — so rough, that if they do not po- 
sitively jar the very spirit of the traveler out of him, they are cer- 
tain to inspire him with any thing but agreeable sensations either 
in body or mind. 
Our best public thoroughfares, as a general thing, are to be 
found where enterprising farmers are most abundant, and we have 
known very many instances where such men did not stop their 
labors when their " tax was worked out," but felt an obligatory 
responsibility to see to the little repairs necessary in order to keep 
the work they had accomplished perfect, through the year. W^hat 
a few moments, thus employed, at proper times, will effect in se- 
curing public ways in right condition, and tend directly to a 
diminution of highway taxes, experience would soon show if the 
practice could become universal. Let a gully commence, and 
each succeeding shower will tend to make it worse, until from be- 
ing unpleasant, it becomes uncomfortable, unsafe, impassable. 
In the end, days of labor and dollars of expense must be appro- 
priated to put it where it was left the preceding year. Now, 
had the individual of nearest access to the place, taken a hoe and 
