The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-12-03
Roads and Road Making.

Of primary importance to the civil as
well as military power of any country are
good public thoroughfares. Rapidity and
cheapness in transportation are vital neces-
sites to commercial prosperity, and in time
of war the safety of Il nation may depend
upon the state of her roads. These facts
| have long been recognized, and hence the
perfection of roads has been problem to
which engineers have in all ages assiduously
| applied themselves. The Importance of
even slight advance in improvement has
| kept alive interest in this department of
engineering, and century after century has
| elapsed without the perfect ideal considered
| as yet reached.
That this is true is proved by 4 very brief
review of the Patent Office records, i'll
which patents for various compositions for
road surfaces, and for methods of road
building, constitute every year 4 notable
number of the patents applied for and
issued.
Probably the most remarkable success
ever yet achieved by any one system was
that which attended and still attends the
| macadam road. Notwithstanding its
expensive character, it to-day covers more
surface in Europe than any other. In
America, except in the vicinity of large
towns, this road is not much employed, the
comparative sparsenesS of the population
and the small amount of travel in rural
districts not warranting the cost of its con-
struction and maintenance.
| There are few circumstances under which
this road is not admirably adapted to town
and country thoroughfares. 1t has smooth
surface, after it has been a little used, and
affords an admirable foothold for horses.
1t is expedtiousy laid, and perhaps
demands as little expense for care and main
| tenance as any other capable OF equal
| endurance and service.
1t is now fifty years or Whereabouts since
Macadam introduced this celebrated system,
and it is quite doubtful whether the next
fifty years will give the world anything
better for all purposes. But, as we have
already said, this system is not at the pres
ent, nor is it probable that it soon will be,
available for American thoroughfares.
Roads in this country must, from the
nature of the case, be constructed of such
| materials as are available Immediately
| along their lines, and must necessarily be
more or less imperfect.
In this as in other countries the great
enemy of roads is frost, and the only way
to even partially prevent its ravages is to
construct roads high enough to allow thor
ough drainage. The flat surfaces permit
ted on most roads in this country is their
most radical defect. The result is rivers OF
mud in spring and autumn, and frozen ruts
of indescribable ugliness and discomfort
in winter until such time as the snow covers
and fills them.
A few days labor devoted to thorough
ditching along the sides of roads and Gle
waiting the centers where they have settled
below the proper grade would greatly miti-
gate the evils complained of. This is gener-
ally done, when done at all, by throwing
| back on the road the soil eXcavated from
| the bitches, very erroneous method and
almost sheer waste of labor. Such soil is
generally composed of comminuted and
pulverized material washed off from the
road, and will only temporarily pack. AS
soon as it becomes very dry in summer 1t
grinds up into Il dust heap, and is blown
off by winds, and washed off again by
rains.
All soil used to raise the level of roads
should be new soil, not the washings OF
the roads, which latter should be carted
away. Where roads are much Travelled
there washings are valuable manure, and
it would pay well to cart them into the
lands lying along such roads, from which
soil of inferior fertility might be taken tC
form the roadways.
Wherever practicable, Il deep hard bed
of stone or timber should be laid below
the reach of frost, upon which the surface
material should be distributed. Grave
stands unrivaled for road surfaces, but it is
not available in many localities. Broken
stone, however, is obtainable oftentimes
where gravel cannot be got, and answers
the purpose very we'll.
We have seen road laid through swamp
made with Il bed of rough logs, well sunk
down, and covered with a mixture of blue
clay and broken stone which was excellent
in all respects, having almost as good anC
permanent a surface us macadam.
1t is usual to work country roads early
in the summer, to repair the defects caused
J by spring uphcavels. This done they AZ,
generally left till the ensuing season, wher
the same operation is repeated. But /;
little labor late in the fall would pay wei
on most roads. This labor should b,
expended in securing proper drainage
All sluiccs should be opened if stopped
the roads raised where the summer veal
and tear have depressed them, and thei
surfaces made smooth, so that the wate
may run Off with facility. Neglect il
these particulars is always dearly paid fo
in the miring of teams and wagons, and il
wear and tear of both animals and vehicles
Scientific american.
In Georgetown, CAL, the largest silve
button ever produced in the United State
was taken out by J. W. Watson, superin