In laying out routes, no bad kinks or sharp turns should be tolerated. The English roads, though better as to surface-finish and drainage, do not compare with the roads of France as to trend and direction; because in England there are so many abrupt and “blind” twistings, which are generally avoided in France. Liberality in road building now will be repaid many fold in the future. The aim should be to adopt the best routes, the best curves and turns, and the most perfect construction known at the present day.[18] It is the opinion of all experts on road building that taking a period of ten years, a good bed and surface carefully maintained all the time will cost less in the aggregate than the very best bed and surface if neglected. We need perfect maintenance, and organization constantly kept sharp and effective, rather than expensive first construction. Nevertheless, the best original construction will be found economical in the end. Automobiles have introduced on the roads a new sort of wear and tear, as their broad pneumatic tires, carrying great weights and moving at high speeds, press into the softer spots and suck up loose material. The result is pockmarks or rough places, which destroy the best of roads constructed according to the old-methods road building.[19] While good highways are of great value to the terminal cities, they are of even greater value to the outlying towns, and of greatest value to the farming communities through which they pass. Good roads add an element of better living to an agricultural community; they afford ready communication with the city and reduce materially the cost of handling farm products of all kinds; and also they promote communication between farms. These state highways should invariably include a work-road for heavy loads, and also a pleasure drive. The two should be separated by a grassway and there should be grass plots at the sides, and not less than three rows of trees should be planted. The country schools should be on these highways. At the earliest possible date measures should be taken for beginning what may be termed the outer encircling highway. Beginning at Kenosha on the north, this thoroughfare would run through Pleasant Prairie, Trevor, and Wilmot to McHenry, thus passing through the northern lake region. Here are the headwaters of the Fox River, lying in natural scenery of much beauty; here too are a large number of lakes and waterways surrounded by hills, the whole forming an extensive park-like territory that will become an important adjunct of Chicago life when properly improved, and when suitable connections are secured. [Illustration: XXXIX. CHICAGO. THE DES PLAINES RIVER; VIEW NEAR MADISON STREET BRIDGE. From the Report of the Special Park Commission.]