Working all day long with his old
horse, removing obstructions, draining out the culverts, filling
ruts and holes with new stone, and repairing the damage of rain
and storm, the road-worker was filled with a world of practical
information covering roads and road-making. And having learned
that I was of the same calling, we exchanged views with the
greatest enthusiasm. It was astonishing to see how nearly in
agreement we were as to what constituted an ideal road.
"Almost everything," said he, "depends on depth. If you get a
good solid foundation, the' ain't anything that can break up
your road."
"Exactly what I have discovered," I responded. "Get down to
bedrock and do an honest job of building."
"And don't have too many sharp turns."
"No," said I, "long, leisurely curves are best--all through life.
You have observed that nearly all the accidents on the road are
due to sharp turnings."
"Right you are!" he exclaimed.
"A man who tries to turn too sharply on his way nearly always
skids."
"Or else turns turtle in the ditch."
But it was not until we reached the subject of oiling that we
mounted to the real summit of enthusiastic agreement. Of all
things on the road, or above the road, or in the waters under the
road, there is nothing that the road-worker dislikes more than
oil.
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