Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1825-06-07


When the first coal of metal has in
seme degree settled and become conso-
lidated, second coat, OF three inches
thick, is to be laid On and rolled as be-
fore, unless you have tratlic--in which
case great care must be taken to rake
the road constantly with iron rakes, Ill
ling The tracks made by every carriage,
so as not to be seen by that succeeding,
until the road is quite consolidated, alter
which i, will take no damage, nor tall
into ruts from any shape or size OF
wheel or weight Oh carriage.
Nj Oh has been SAID and written upon
the strength Of roads--my experience
leads me to the conclusion, that six inch
es thickness OF well broken, we'll laid
stone, is quite sufficient, provided the
bed be made and kept dry. | have OF
late years made no new roads thicker ;
but have, on the second year, given II an
addition of three inches, loosiDg little
the hard surface OF the road, about an
inch deep, to allow the new and the old
metals TO Join aad to unite in compact
body-go,Ag upon the principle that the
natural soil is the real carrier, both ol
the road and the carriages, and that ii II
could be kept dry by any other means
the artificial road would be altogether
unnecessary, and as six inches OF metal
is as effectual roof, or covering, as a
larger quaaity, there is no use IN being
a. the expense oil more.
mATERIALs OR METAL.
The gradalions OF quality in this coun.
Cry, of stone for roads, are considered to
BE-
First. Granite,
Second Good Flint,
Third. Hard Lime Stone.
In America, where the summers are
dry, and hot, should prefer hard i'ne
stone 10 flinl-bccausc the latter IS very
apt 10 become loose in very dry weather ;
but whatever materials be used, il should
be broken very smali--m recommend
ing six ounces as the proper size, | went
as far as the then old preludices would
admit; but experience has convinced
me, that half HE size is more useful and
more profitable to the country. When
the stone is well broken and properly
applied, there is no occasion tor the CO.
vering Of gravel rslate, and | object 10
il as preventing the consolidation Of the
stone by keeping the pieces apart, where
as they should unite by their own an
giles. The slope Of road should be as
little as possible, 10 throw of the surface
water; and have found an inch in a
yard, from the centre to the side, 10 be
quite sufficient; If the surface be smooth
and solid, no water can stand On such d
slope, and the more you can allow car
riages to stand upright, the easier they
will run.
The reason of recommending the lay
ing on Of the stone at different times, and
in layers, is, that if the whole quantity be
laid on. at once, the under part never
consolidatcs properly, but continues
loose, and is apt TO be shaken by heavy
carriages, and thereby 10 loosen the up
per part, SO as to make the road receive
rain water.
Having resided fourteen years in
America, am aware OF the severity OF
the frost, and of the heavy and sudden
Summer showers. These circumstances
make it more necessary TO be very at
tentve 10 keeping dry the bed Of your
roads, as frost will assuredly reach them
every winter; whereas, the fross Of this
climate are not so violent, and do not
reach the bottom Of our roads, perhaps,
on an average OF seven years.
On billy ground, great care should be
taken to keep the side water ways clear
and open, otherwise rain water will get
in under the road, and will seek its way
between tho metal and the bed down The
slope, for great distance.
In, country like America, where ma.
ny new roads must necessarily be made,
1t is of the greatest consequence TO fol
low the most economical course, 10 or
der to make the funds appropriated to
roads produce the greatest sum OF good
TO the public.
The old system of digging trenches,
and filling them again with stone, is to
be avoided as very useless waste oil the
funds, i. being evident that the expense
OF this mschievous process is greater
than making The same length Of road on
good principles
JOHN LONDON MADAM.
Great L.rcnfion. MIR. Jos. Bell is
building in this town boat which he in
.ooJ. to nroraI nv I EvEp mower II is