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Show -AeJ5sj Canadian Itoada. UNITED STATES Consul Seyfcrt, at Stratford, Ontario, On-tario, has refused nn interesting inter-esting report regarding the methods being ndopted In tbnt vicinity to accomplish public rond Improvement, from which the following is taken: The Province of Ontario has sixty thousand miles of country road maintained main-tained by township and county councils. coun-cils. Since the beginning of the movement move-ment for better roads there is a radical radi-cal Improvement in tbe condition of tbo roads. The old way of road improvement im-provement by statute labor, which has existed for nearly a century, and did much during pioneer dnys to open highways, has been Inrgcly superseded by a more modern system of a direct tnx rntc nnd closer supervision. Township control is universal in road construction, while at tho sarao tlmo county councils hnvc undertaken tbe management of a system of mnln ronds witbln the county. Tho work of tho county council is devoted chiefly to legislative functions, and tho actual oversight of work on the grounds is left to rond foremen or overseers. The county system is aided by the provincial pro-vincial government to the extent of one-third of tho entire cost of construction. construc-tion. During the years of 1003-O1 1024 miles of mnln roads were improved im-proved at nn expenditure of $500,000, through provincial aid. Modern rond machinery, such as grading machines, stone crushers, is in gcncrnl use throughout the province. Natural grnvel beds nre numerous, nnd enre Is taken to select the best gravel in the pit, which, under the modern system, is placed on tbe roads after the earth Is consolidated with the roller. Bridges nre now nil being built with steel superstructures, concrete abutments and concrete floors. The matter of drainage is given the greatest attention. Where underdraln-age underdraln-age is needed tiles are used, with fro qucnt outlets that will lead to natural watercourses. Breakers, once so common com-mon for carrying tbe water from one side of the road to tho other, are entirely en-tirely abandoned. Concrete culverts have taken their place, and on tbe steep hills, where such surface drainage drain-age Is necessary, the road bed, with Its high centre crown, Is as smooth as on the level. In the older parts of Ontario Onta-rio road construction has long sinco passed the enrly tempornry stage, and nil Improvements aro made with a view of durability. Perth County, of which Stratford is the county seat, has 1302 miles of country highways; of this 072 miles are gravelled nnd nre ns fine permanent per-manent roads as can bo found In any country. A source of much trouble and ex-penso ex-penso to keep country roads open in this latitude for several months of the winter Is the enormous amount of snowfall. Snow fences, similar to those used by railroads, are employed, but wire fences are much cheaper and give better satisfaction. In tho early part of tho winter snow plows are used, but Inter In tho senson they cannot can-not cope with the drifts, and many of tho roads become absolutely Impassable. Impassa-ble. To overcome some of the difficulties difficul-ties on snow roads the last provincial legislature adopted a measure In passing pass-ing nn act the first section of which provides that: "On nnd after the coming com-ing into forco of this section no person shall uso on. any public highway except ex-cept -within the limits of any city any sleigh or other vehicle upon runners drawn by horses or other animals (except (ex-cept cutters) manufactured after the first day of December, 1000, unless tho same is so constructed that tbe distance dis-tance between tbo outer edge of such runners at the bottom Is not less than four feet." The object of this act-to have n uniform width of sleigh runners Is to get a wider track for doublo teams. Itoadway Repairing. In n letter to tho selectmen of the towns throughout Jho State of Connecticut, Connec-ticut, James II. Mncdonnld, State Highway Commissioner, gives some practical points on repairing roadways as follows: "All culverts nnd gutters should bo cleaned out and all shoulders on tho roads should be pared down so that they shall bo below the traveled portion por-tion of tho highway. This will permit of tbo water running off lnjo the gutter. gut-ter. Gravel roads should hnvo a little lit-tle grnvel plnced on the mnrks In the centre of the road nnd In tho ruts. If this Is, not done nt this senson no good will result. All looso stones should be removed from macadam ronds with tho back of a rake, not the teeth. Looso stones Injure n road ns much ns nny one thing, becnuso they nro driven into the surface and break the bond. "Where the stone Is beginning to show though a llttlo splinters or chips of stone should bo applied to form n cushion. This cushion ibould not be more than three-fourths of an Inch thick. No sprinkling or rolling Is necessary. nec-essary. A ton of splinters will sutflco for from 250 to 300 square feet. An ordinary farm roller, weighted down and run afer t!.o road after loose stones are removed, will Improve It. It is not necessary to uso screenings on n stono road, as they only furnish dust In dry weather. If tho road Is watched, a new surface will not bo necessary, as It will not have tbo chance to get in bad condition." |