[AT] OT: Flashback - Early Farmers Building County Roads

[Len Rugen]

The road back to the farm where I grew up and Dad lived until about 6 years ago used to be a "major" thru road, but it went through some low river ground.  I guess this was OK in horse days and when there were houses along the road, but since about the time of the rubber tire, the center section was abandoned.  The county somewhat maintains the ends, but it gets less and less each year.  
 
Dad was an antognist and made enemies with the county, so there hasn't been any gravel on our end for about 15 years.  After he moved away, I tried to mend things a little, they were nice but said since nobody lives back there, they won't gravel it now.  
 
Several years ago, I borrowed a pull-type road grader, replaced the wooden tounge and generally made it usable again.  I worked on the road, then returned the grader to the neighbor who promptly sold it to an antique buyer.  Oh well...  
 
I now just use the tractor blade, but it won't do as good of a job.  I can't really afford to gravel a mile of county road, then put half as much around my buildings and lanes.  One without the other is useless, so I just live with it like we always have.  If it's reall bad, in the spring the first pass down the road is with the disc, then blade to level out the ruts.  
 
I think it was the world's worst farmer (http://www.worldsworstfarmer.com/), who lives near here that asked why rocks in the garden come up but gravel in the road goes down.