Repair Of Highways

Poor nations mako poor roads and keep theni poor. Yet a, poor nation inight increase its riohea by tbe making ef good roads. We are not a poor nation, and it ought to be a matter of pride uo less than of business tact to keep np with the otber nations in this matter of feasible roads. Wbat they mean to the farmer iu the saving of repairs, of live stock and of rolling stook, vrhat they mean to the women who wish to stir out of the house in bad weather, wbat they mean to the children who have to go to distant schools, wbat they mean in looks and cleanliness, what they mean in the facility thay affordfor trausportation and for pleasure travel have been gone over again and again, yet the lesson bas not been fully learned. England and other European countries do not wait until a road has been kicked to pieces by the horses or guttered by rains before mending it. They keep meu at work on it. And it is estimatid that i.snch a case the repairs are not over 'JO a mile per anuum, since the work does not take all of the time of oueman - indeed, the work is often consigued to superannuated eitizens who are no longer in competition with the peoplo who have indoor trades or are employed on farms. A little tinkering, a little rock breaking, a little ramming home of loóse stone when frost or rain has heaved it np will keep a road in good condition, and the man who does this hnmble yet useful work eau keep some miles of it is shape. In some of the poorer countries of Enrope these road inenders work for what the benefited citizens choose to give them in the way of alms, but that is not businesslike, and it ought not to do here. We want able men and are able to pay them, and in the country we have no doubt that able men could be engaged to repair the highways at $50 a mile per annum. For lack of immediate repair it costa hundreds of dollars where it might cost one. In the end we ehall Jearn that the best is the cheapest and that constant watchfulness alone ! keeps tbings at their best.