American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1825-02-04

4ky,tr the attention Oh Tue CHiAGiS " tbS
" s,l,h to the known and acknowledged TACT, tina
# = nublic roads, which are under county and town
in charge. are bad in their Formation, and almos
,,,r.,v without that care which is necessary tt
ale hem psssable at some periods OF the year.
r., tbe turnpike roads in Pennsylvania. II IS the
,rnose of this paper particularly to Call the public
tenton. and by statement OF the erroneous prin-
ples upon which they have been made, and an
Exhibition of better mode OF constructing anc
I'd wiring them, it is hoped extensive benefit will
. obtained.
A In the formation of our turnpike roads we com.
lii four great errors
n l. We dig trench in which to place the large
# ones which are the foundation of the road, and
Which receives The water that percolates through
Id updermnes and loosens the coat Of broken stone
NJ hcb forms the cover of the road. Those large
homes scarcely ever consolidate.
|# Q. Our roads are quite too convex, whereby car
Iapes are necessarily kept in the middle, which is
Y orn down, and thus presents sort of basin Tor
he reception and detention OF rain.
IA 8. Our stone is not broken small enough-ant
bur roads are generally encountered with large
homes, which interrupt the progress of carriages
hise up the wheels, and, by The jolt, injure the
oads.
A. There is rarely trench or ditch cut at the
Tide of our roads, TO carry of the rain water or,
hui, it is very seldom kept free from obstruction.
q At these errors not to wonder; for Eng
bnd, with centuries of experience IN road-makng
Ind tenfold the experience of turnpikes that we
Nave had has until lately pursued exactly the same
Hareer which, at present, is continued in many
8ars OF that island. But new system has been
Introduced there within few years past, by Mr.
II. l.. MADAM, which has stood the test of the
host rigorous scruuny-and received The most IN
I'll. ,lot,. r. r H.
master general-of the propretors of stage coach
&s--and of numbers of the most enlightened persons
ID the nation. 1t firms no slight recommendation
Bf this system, that Mr. MADAM. and his family,
BINDER his direction and on his system. have been
Ind are employed in the construction and repair OF
INHERENT roads to the extent OF nearly 700 miles
md that he is consulted, and his plan followed by
3he major part OF all the road contractors in Eng
3bnd.
q The leading features of Mr. MsAdam's system
Xre-that the best foundation for road is the natu
fal soil that this foundation, on which the broken
tone is to be laid, ought to be elevated two, three
Do four inches, above what is usually termed the
Vide or summer road'-that the stones should be
Broken so not to exceed six ounces in weight,
Me has recently declared preference Of three,
land so completely consolidated as to prevent the
Penetration OF ain-that the stone should be far
tones with those easily irable is highly pernicous
land that the bed of the road should be secured
against under water by drains bitches. The
Deans by which to produce these effects, are de-
1lled In his work at length, and in his various cx
1minations by order of the house OF commons,
md are comprised in the following plain rules -
Y 1. "The first operation in making road should
4e the reverse oil digging trench The road
Mould not be sunk below, but rather raised above
Pc ordinary level OF the adjacent ground. Care
houd be taken that there be a sufficient fall from
pc road to the adjacent ground to take off the wa
r., so that this ground be some inches below that
IN which the road is intended TO be placed. Side
rains, or dltches TO carry off The water inds
ptnsably necessary.
3. Having secured the soil from under water
Fe next care is to secure It from rain water, by a
9old road made of clean, dry stone, or flint, so
elected, prepared, and laid, as to be perfectly i'm
pervious to water This cannot be effected, unless
he greatest be taken, that earth, clay chalk,
b other matter that will hold conduct water, be
nlxed with the broken stone, which must be so
prepared, and laid, to unite by ITS own angles
INTO firm, compact, and impenetrabe body.
5. 1.-The large stones usually laid at the bottom
pf roads as foundation, are not only useless ex
Pense but positively injurious as, being constantly
Phaken by heavy carriages, they keep the upper
2ratum loose, and open for the reception OF rain
Rater.
4. "The stone, Cor, as we term it, the metal,) is
70 be laid on all once, but in layers OF three
inches thick after the first layer is laid on it is
Pc subjected to the traffic, or il the road is not
Ppen to traffic, roller Of iron should be used, if
fhs weather be showery; if otherwise, water should
Pc thrown on it; for stone will consolidate when
perfectly dry.
D. " Much has been said and written upon the
ftrength of roads My experience leads me to the
Conclusion, that six inches thickness of well broken
Stone properly laid on, is quite sufficient, provided
Ihe bed OF the road be made and kept dry. OF
'ate years have made no road thicker but on the
second year have given it an addition OF three inch
IS, ooslng little the hard surface of the road,