Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-01-25
From tie H3ted States Gazette.
On THE REPAIRS OF ROADS.

expense Of keeping turnpike roads in
repair, might be diminished one-third
at least by the following plan. Letthe
road, as soon as completed, be divided
into sections Of six, eight or ten miles,
as experience may dictate. To each
section let man be appointed, whose
duty it shall be to proceed daily, OF
every other day, up and down his por-
ton of the road, to fill up ruts, cut small
drains to carry OF the water, remove
all stones that obstruct the wheels Of
carriages, and, in word, to repair any
damage that may arise in the road
He ought to be provided with full
supply of broken stone, placed at pro-
per distances-with an OK and OK cart
roIler-a rake-a shovel, SC. A
person fit for this purpose might be had
for probably $50 dollars per anum-
besides the expense Of provender for
the OK. A supervisor ought to be APP
pointed to every portion Of road OF
40 or so miles, with full powers over
road-makers, gate-keepers, sc.
The following directions for repair
ing old roads, are taken nearly verba-
tim from MIR. M'Adams's work.
2. aNo addition of materials is to be
brought upon road, unless where
there is not quantity Of clear stone
equal to ten inches in thickness.
Q. "The stone already in the roads is
to be loosened up and broken, SO that
no piece shall exceed six ounces in
weight.
8. The tools to be used in repairing
roads are
a. "Strong picks, but short from the
handle to the point, for lifting the road.
b. "Small hammers about one pound
weight in the head, the face the size OF
a shilling, well steeled, with short
handle.
c. Brakes, with wooden heads, ten
inches in length, and iron teeth about
two and half inches in length, very
strong, for raking out the large stones
when the road is broken up, and for
keeping the road smooth, after being
relaid, and while it is consolidating.
d. "Very light broad-mouthed sho-
wells, to spread the broken stone, and
form the road. -.
4. "1he road is then to be laid near
" Fat. A rise of three inches from
the side to the centre is sufficient for a
road thirty feet wide.
S, "The stones, when loosened, are
TO be gathered of with strong, heavy
rake, with teeth two and half inches
in length, to the side of the road, and
there broken. On no account are stones
10 be broken on the road.
6. "When the large stones have been
removed, and none left in the rood ex-
ceeding six ounces, the road is to be
put in shape, and a rake employed to
smooth the surface, which will, at the
same time, bring the remaining stones
to the surface, and allow the dirt to go
down. Ef,
Z. "When the road is SO prepared,
the stones that have been broken, are
to be spread carefully over it. This is
rather a nice operation, and the future
quality of the road will greatly depend
upon the manner in which it is per-
formed. The stone must not be laid
on in shovels full, but scattered over
the surface, one shovel full following
another, and spreading over consi-
derable space.
s. "Only small space ofroad should
be lifted at once. Five men, together,
shout be set to lift it all across. Two
of them should continue to pick up
and rake off the large stones, and form
the road for receiving the broken stone.
The other three should break stones
the broken stones to be laid on as
soon as the piece of road is prepared to
receive them-and then break up anoth-
er piece. Two or three yards at one
lift is enough.
9. "To proportion the work among
the FIVE men, must Of course be regu-
lated by the nature Of the road. When
there are many very large stones, the
three breakers may not be able to keep
pace with the two men employed in
lifting and forming. When there are
few large stones, the contrary may be
the case. Ofall this the surveyor must
Judge.
10. "But while il is recommended
to lift and relay roads which have been
made with large stone, or with large
stone mixed with clay, chalk, or other
mischievous materials, there are many
cases in which it would be highly un-
profitable to lift and relay road, even
if the materials should have been ORR
ginally too large. For instance:
IL. "The stones on some roads is oil
so friable a nature, that in lifting, it be-
comes sand. In this case, l recon-
mend cutting down the high places,
keeping the surface smooth, and gra-
dually wearing out the materials now in
the road, and then replacing, them with
stone of better quality properly pre-