Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-09-23
The Seventh Street Road.
COMPLETION OF THE MACADAM ROADWAY TO BRIGHT

WOOD.
The completion OF the last section OF the
9TH street Macadam road was effected Tues
day last, by Mr.. j. j. Burrows and his corps
OF road makers, under the direction Of Lieut..
7. " Greene. This carries this fine improve
ment as far as Brightwood, and it is pro-
nounced by all to be one OF the most valuable
public Improvements ever made in the county.
This road, 1t Will be remembered. was graded and
partially by the board Of public
laid with large boulders covered with broken blue
stone and gravel. After being levelled, it was
creasng travel and without any repairs, until a
reconstruction was imperative. This was COM
menced three years ago at Boundary street, and
has since been progressing as fast as the limited
appropriations by Congress would allow.
THE MANNER OF DOING THIS WORK
has been fully described in THE STAR from time to
time, and the difficulties in obtaining the proper
material &C., noted. The whole length of the
old roadway laid by the board OF public works has
now been taken up and reconstructed. All the
dirt has been carted of and new material substi-
tuted, with the exception OF the large blue stone
boulders which formed the foundation. These
have been broken into smaller pieces and put
back In the foundation, and thousands OF loads Of
proper thickness. This flint stone has been gath
cred OF the farms adjacent to the road These
immense weight as fast as deposited;
given to 1t, sharp sand added, and all rolled to
smooth surface, making thick mass almost as
solid as ledge OF rock Each side OF this macadam
center (Which is about 16 feet wide) is carriage
way Of rolled gravel, IL feet vile, and compacted
In the same manner, the crown giving sufficient
grade to carry OF the water to the cobbe stone
cutters. The work was carried last season as far
where 1t was resumed this year by the same SUI
perintendent and the old corps OF labOrerS, and is
now completed as far as the junction of the 18th
street road with the pike, the last section being
3,OO0 feet In length.
THE PURPOSE OF LIEUT.. GREENE
is to carry 1t far as the District line, near Silver
Spring, should the appropriation be made for it.
The flint rock, broken into small pieces, is thought
by many to be superior for foundation to the
blue stone, as it appears to stand the wear and
tear best, and when crushed by the roller makes
hard, sharp sand in place OF fine DUST which
comes from the blue stone The roller used by
projecting stone IS either forced bodily into the
solid mass or crushed to sand and pressed into the
surrounding interstices. Preceding this roller is
springs near by. This washes the sand and pull
verified rock doYnwards, and all becomes thor
eugn by the OF
smooCn ana nard as an asphalt pavement
THE WORK OF REPAIR.
Besides the reconstruction OF this section all the
necessary repairs have been made this season to
the entire length of this road, from Boundary
street to near the village OF Brightwood. This
Will have to be kept up every year, and can be
done at little cost, in order to keep it up to the
original standard. small appropriation every
year for repairs would be- great economy, and
should be made. The advantage of this road
TO both city and county can hardly be calculated,
especially In the matter OF increased trade 1t is
conceded by citizens living on the line that travel
nas increased four fold In the last three years
Farmers for thirty or more miles north OF this
dlStrlct now are frequently seen with heavy
wagons piled full with theiF products, which are
readily disposed Of in this city and groceries and
cry goods are purchased for the return trips.
thousands OF pleasure teams are drivenover this
road daily in pleasant weather. Another result
mas been the increased demand for country resi-
dences by the merchants as'others OF this city and
all along the line are jubilant over the improve
ment, and praises fall thick and fast upon 1t
Greene ana his corps OF road builders. The origi-
nal cost OF this road as made by the board OF
public works, was $4,000 The entire cost OF re-
building II and Keeping it in repair during the
past three years Is less than $4,000