Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-11-20


:, dation of the road. Having obtained
hrm substratum for new road, or having
hlled up all Inequalities in an old one will
solid materials, we may proceed to max,
good road with much less trouble ane
expense than is usual. The foundation
mustnow be covered with stones ofany size
not exceeding s or z inches diameter, il
I is obvious that if smaller ones can be had
they should be preferred The stones
should be spread equally over the surface,
and settled firmly with a light sledge-iu
this operation, such stones as are too
large, must be broken or carried away
over this layer or small stones not lar.
! ger than eggs should be .cattered, and
settled with hammers between the in.
terstices of the largest. Over ;.iis, small
quantity of any hard clay, just sufficient
to cover the stones, should be spread III
mixed with gravel IL will be beiter-bu,
| II gravel stones were used, il would fai
thro' the stones aud be wasted. It's la.
ken for. granted, thai this work be done
in dry weather, the road will therefore in
this situation, be fit Tor cattle and carria.
ges; IN month or two, the clay and g,a
vel will be worn away, and the corners OF
I
The large stones appcar--men should
| now be employed TO break the stones with
hammers, weighing aboul IL pounds
they should stand Up at tits work, and the
handles OF their hammers should be from
To ieet long, accorGiay 10 the size oil
the man. After ano,brt month, or six
weeks, the. road must i,e broken with care
IN Inc same manner aud with proper in
teryais u should be broken from time TO,
iIme, as often as may be Decessary---four
times Is in general sufficient. Whilss
this operation is performed, a boy with a
barrow OF fine gravel, should follow the
workmen, and should replace the splinters
OF Inc large stones in the holes that are
made by THEN being broken, and should
Nil HE creyices with g,avel--a small
Quantity OF gravel may be spread over the
road whichwiil soon insiits WAY mi 10 any hol-
low thaimay hayebeea left N ,teprrcsding.
operations. One caution must be siri0-
" adhered to; stones of different hard
ness must not be uixed--;hey may be
used sepa alely, but If they are used toge,
der, the hard stones win soon wear
through the softer, aud The .rbad will he
unit tor repair, till The materials are pick
ed up and stored. There may at frs,
view appear but,iittle difference between
this and the common method of making
| roads with stone but wien he principles
upon which these directions have been
| founded, are explained, Considerable diff
ference in labor and exlense will be dis
covered.
Two methods of breaking stones for
roads are generally pnctised; they are
either laid upon the real and broken with
Hong hammers or they are broken in heaps
ny the side.of the road, md then thrown
on the surface; in both cases, the stone
at which the man strike. is liable TO slip
from the hammer, so that FIVE or six al.
tempts are necessary 20 break one stone.
but wheDthe stones thatare TO be broke n
are cemented together BY smsller stones
clay and gravel, every bow that they re.
ceive upon their projecting surface, tells,
and splits them frequently in perpendicu-
lar layers, through their whole depth.
When gravel falls between those lay
ers, II binds them together more soiidlv
than can be well conceived without expe-
riment. On the contrary, when loose
stones are thrown upon road, they arc
dispersed by horses feet and pushed on
either side by the wheels Of carriages, as
every person must have perceived who
has attended to the subject.
Another principle must also be cons-
dered, it the subsiratum is not previous.
ly rendered hard and even, wherever any
place is softer than another, that spot viii
subside, & inequalities that are at frst I'M
perceptible, will in time grow dee per, W ater
will lodge in thern, and the descent of
wheels will wear them deeper and deeper,
I'LL they break into ruls and holes: be.
sides, where loose slonesbroken as small
as they ought TO be in the common mode
OF making roads are THROWN together.
they must be laid to great depth or they
viii scatter in such manner as TO be use.
less but If they are managed in the man.
ner that has already been described, or
8 inches will be sufficient.
Another caution must be observed in
mending an old road wherever hole is &c
De hlled, the edges Of the hole should be
cut perpendicular; & the Iorm Of ,he hole
should be changed, from that of bow, Il
the shape Of a trough, whose sides rise
at right angles from the bottom; Tor, 4