Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-07-19

the 9TH street road from Boundary street through
the county, and from time to time was noted
the progress made by Mr.. j. J. Burrows, super
intendent in charge of the work, under the gen.
erai supervision of Lieut. Fsv. Greene assistant
engineer of the District, in charge of streets,
avenues and roads. The taking I'D of the old
gravel and rock bed. put down by the board OF
puolc works, and relaying it, was completed
last year, 400 lineal feet or to the point where
the Dock creek church road intersects the 7th
street pike. The grading and matchmaking OF
TINS road by the board of public works was a
vast Improvement upon the old dirt road, yet 1T
was found by experience that the blue stone
bOuiders forming the foundation, were quite too
large, and hot having been properly laid the road
soon wore into ruts by the immense travel over
IT. and required almost constant watching
and frequent repairs to keep it in passable con-
dition. After a full examination into its con-
struction and its condition at that time Lieut.
Greene concluded that it was neces-
sary to take up the whole length of it and have
1t reaid The work was commenced at Bound
airy street and carried out as far as Sunny s
hill, when the appropriation run out, and the
work had to be suspended.
PROGRESS OF THE WORK THIS SEASON.
The improved character of the constructed
portion so much pleased the citizens of the coun-
~ That an almost universal demand was made
Tor carrying the improvement as far as the Dis
trlct line. This is now being done under the
superlntendency of Mr.. Burrows. The work
was resumed on the 5th of july with the same
gang OF men employed last year, all experienced
III the manner of its execution. The force en-
piOyed embraces thirty-three labOrers fourteen
carts and horses six two horse wagons for haul
ing stone and gravel, and an iron roller weigh
my lo,oVo pounds drawn by four horses.
HOW THE WORK Is DONE
The old gravel bed has to be removed on the
macadamZed portion (Which was originally six
teen feet in width, and the bedrock of large
Douiders brOkenintO small pieces of uniform size.
lhls macadamiZed portion lies i'm the center of
the roadway. which is fifty feet wide from gutter
10 gutter. 1t is now being increased two feet.
lliahinS a UNIFORM width of eighteen feet all the
way 10 the boundary. with hard rolled gravel
roadway on either size, each sixteen feet wide.
In addition to the utilization of the old rock
foundation new surface of white flint rock has
peen added, the flint broken into pieces of uni
form size, and rolled level; after which water
ing cart is put on, which precedes the roller
thus Keeping it thoroughly wet, while the roller
Is passing over, and packing the stone almost as
sono as a ledge, All depreSsiOns are at once
hiied with flint stone, and the rolling process is
hept up continuously two hours over every one
hundred square yards Much of this flint is
ground to sharp sand, by the immense weight Of
iV,oV pounds OF iron roller passing over it, and
the drenchlng from the water cart washes the
SAND doWnwards, thus packing all the instertces
IN the bed. and when dry it is as solid as a
CONTINUOUS ledge On top of this is spread one
ana a-haif inches of gravel of a uniform size
winch Is also rolled and washed i'm with the
sprlnkiln@ process. This is the finishing pro-
cess, and when done the roadway is as
EASY TO RIDE OVER
as an asphaltum pavement. That portion which
was nnlsned up last year holds it's own, and al
though it has stood the frOsts of as severe ,
winter as was ever known in this vicinity. and
with increased travel vet it has sustained no
damage. The Macadam part is of a uniform
thickness OF twelve inches after the work is
completed. and for the most part is of the hard
esq niht rock The gravel portions of this pike
sixteen feet each side of the Macadsm-are
made oy first removing all the clay. which is
carried Off and dumped, and a clean gravel bed
roiied as 1t Is spread to depth of about eight
cen inches when finished. The gravel and sand
IL uniformly spread on i'll layers thoroughly wet.
anu "heh ABOUT half dry is rolled with the same
roller as Is used on the Macadam part. and is
hhisheu up flush with it. making a uniform
curve OF sufficient grade to shed the rain into
,he cutters on each side. The Commissioners
nope 10 make the county appropriation for
roads hold out so that this NAV be finished tn
the District line. and at the same time keen all
the county roads in good state of repair This
is without doubt
THE BEST SPECIMEN OF COUNTRY PIKE
10 DE found in this section. and it is the purpose
OF the authorities when this is completed to take
up another road in some other section and
up until all the roads leading from the CITY shall
nave been similarly treated. Thus far 10, 200
feet in length or 8 miles of this road has been
completed. and the gang will soon reach Bright
wood The material used costs very little.
Gravel and flint stone is found i'm great abund-
ance. and the farmers living i'm the vicinity are
clad TO have the stone gathered from their
ne!ds and carted off to make such roads as
these. The cutters are all laid with cobble
stone. and for most of the distance the grade is
sulllcleht TO carry Oil the drainage, leaving the
roadway dry and the cutters clean.
THE QUARTER STRETCH"
There is a section beyond Summy's hill nearly
on dead level. which has been named the
quarter stretch" 1t is marvel for uniform
ity and smOothness. and the speed of many
quick stopper is daily tested over it, 1t runs
Tor the most part alongside Mr.. John Saul's
gardens. Mr. Burrows has given special atten-
ton to this quarter stretch in it's construction.