At the present time this is not done and there are one or more ruts in the surface of the road due to the rounding off of the poles where they are placed side by side. The front wheels of the truck are constantly dropping into these ruts, tending to spread the track apart and making it harder for the driver to steer. The tires also suffer from uneven wear. With this deep groove in the track, a certain amount of the traction of the rear wheels is also lost. Hence a much better road would be one with the inner faces of the poles hewn so that a tight fit is secured. This road can be built of two large poles or three smaller ones to give a flat track two and a half feet wide for each wheel. Laid nearly flush with the ground the guard rail can be eliminated with this width of track, except on sharp curves and other locations where there would be danger if the truck left the track. On such a road the traction will also be increased, better time can be made, the truck will be easier to steer and hence safer to operate, and there will be less wear on the tires. Such a road can be very easily and cheaply built by bringing in a portable sawmill and slabbing the material on two sides to the desired face. The life of a good pole road is from three to four years if kept in good repair. The maintenance cost is very light if the road is properly constructed in the first place, consisting chiefly in removing a pole here and there that shows signs of too much wear, and in bracing guard rails where they weaken. The use of two or three hewn poles laid lengthwise for each wheel without cross-ties does not pay as the poles soon get out of place even when trenched, and the loss of traction due to the irregularities and of time and money in the upkeep of such a road more than justifies putting in a good road in the first place. The cost of a fore and aft pole road varies with the accessibility of the material and the cost of the labor. In the past they have been built for as low as $2000 a mile, but with the present prices costs will range from $5000 to $7000 a mile. One company within the year contracted the grading and construction of the road for $70 a hundred foot station, not including the cost of clearing and chunking out the right of way. The total cost was about $125 a station or $6600 a mile. Some of the advantages of the pole road are that it is tough and strong and does not crack, split or break easily so that if it is properly put in it lasts and requires but little maintenance. The material for its construction is found along the right of way and being small in diameter is less expensive than other road materials.