The Olden Days

So, as I was bouncing around in my truck on the way home,
riding out all the potholes and monster gullies forming on 94;
I wondered, who fixed the roads in the olden days?
I mean, back in the covered-wagon-lead-by-horses days.
Laura Ingalls Wilder era.
Haha. . .my history references amaze me. . *sigh*
But anyway,
I'm wondering who fixed the dirt roads when they would get deep holes
or suffer from erosion and what not.
I mean, come on, you played Oregon Trail!
Broken wagon axel, wagon wheel, broken wagon tongue?
I remember playing the game and thinking that it was a sucky inconvience,
but to go through that in real life?
I wonder if it was common belief that it was shitty to run into a giant hole
and that if and when any of the wagon folk came upon a big nasty hole,
if maybe they all got out and shovled some dirt into the hole
and packed it down to even it out.
Because they know that it's crappy, so they are trying to be thoughtful
and mindful travelers.
Like maybe that was a rule of the road back then,
because if everyone did their part, the roads would be all maintained.
I wonder.