Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-03-29

At :he meeting oc the Horticultural, society
Wednesday evening. 1lr. William Saunders read
the following essay upon the Introduction and
Con--ruc' ion of Roads ana Walks.
The guiding principle in locating he position
of roads and walks Is utility Nature forms no
roads or paths: they are the work of men and
animals. and would undoubtedly always pro-
ceej IN -tra.ght lines from point 20 point ii oh
strJeiiou> OF various kinds did not interfere
anu cause dev,atipns Necessity viii. therefore.
suggest where and how they should he intro
ducrd- "a far rs regards roads and walks to
anu from buildings or prominent points of inter
est tie object of their introduction = sufficiently
apparent. but III arranging OF laying cut pleas
IRE grounds and lawns. il is too common "a
practice to introduce walks merely 10 fill up the
ground. under the erroneous Idea that il forms
pleasing variety oil ornament. or that a walk IS
in Itself thing of beauty. Ike tree, which it
j. not These are all very quest Uuabie reasons
Tor doing very a!'SUr,i thing. that is making
walk where il Is not needed. 4 road or walk
should always appear To aim for some definite
object, Or lead a. directly practicable to points
OF sufficient Importance 10 show their utility.
UNNECESSARY ROADS AND WALKS
Should b. carefully avoided; they are expensive
usually, in their construction. If properly made
and require to be Kept clean and neat. Moth
ing looks more wOe-be-gOne and poverty stricken
than a Weedy. neglected road TO a house or walks
through pleasure grounds or gardens. They
detract much from the beauty OF the surround
ings. no matter how elaborate or intrnsiCaIly
worthy they NAV he An over supply of roads
and walks Is ALWAYS q serious iafctiOn and
their useless introduction Is d sure evidence of
the work Of novice in landscape gardening
The enGeavor to Introduce the beauty of curved
lines sometimes prompts to a deviation from
the more available direct course, and, where it
can be done without too great sacrifice of
utility, II is not Objectionable but on the con-
trary. adds to the good effect But no walk OF
road sh0ud he turned from its obvious direct
course without an apparently sufficient reason.
change of level of ground surface tree or
group of plants. or other similar obstruction
Will Induce. and seemingly demand. change OF
line.
There are many locations where the straight
line should be preferred as matter OF taste in
design. As a connecting link, or us defining
point between the strictly architectural lines of
a building and the irregular surfaces and out
lines of natural objects contiguous to it, per-
fectly straight walk is in the best taste and adds
greatly to architectural effect: while on the
other hand. serpentine or frequently CurvinS
walk. following. 1t may be, all the projecting
and receding lines of the ground plan of the
building, detracts from both soiidity and har-
mony OF effects so also walk alongside of a
straight boundary fence. especially in limited
areas where both the fence and walk are visible
at the same time. should not curve until it at
least defects into a course directed from the
boundary line and Yet we NAV occasionally no.
tice ziyzag walk under these circumstances
and So decidedly crooked that one steps first on
zig and then on gag in the attempt to walk over
the pathway.
Most persons are aware of
THE GREAT BEAUTY OF STRAIGHT WALKS,
and avenues of trees when properly placed. and
for public parks OF the lesser order such as in
small squares in cities. they are both effective
and convenient. where curying walks would be
the reverse. In this case beauty depends upon
harmony rather than upon contrast and more
than eitner upon utility. When roads or walks
are carried over irregular surfaces the natural
turns and WiEdings necessary to follow an easy
grade and keep "a Closely 10 the original sur
face of the ground aS possible viii usually de
velop pleasing curves. \ little studied atten-
tlOn 10 this question as to the course of walk
or road will increase the beauty of curvng lines
by adding 10 themthe factor of utility: deep and
expensive cuttings. as we'll aS troublesome en-
banhments. may also beav0idcd. and easy grades
ana economical construction be secured
When It il necessary To branch q secondary
r0aj from the main rtrti il should leave the lat
Ter at nearly ii right angle. and at the same time
III SHOULD Be somewhat narrower than the prin-
cipai road, so as to avoid confusion or mistake.
Otherwise the roads leading to the ice-hOuse
The stable or other outbuildingS NAV be mis-
taken for the road to the dwelling. All these
roads should be made TO appear subordinate
In LAYING out curying or winding walks or
roads 1t l. not always best To follow geometrcal
Jules. Ofto SET the curves out to any regular
radius This plan may occasionally prove per.
fectly satisfactory on strictly level surface but
IL VIII have quite an opposite effect where the
ground il undnlating. The curves to be pleas
Ing. must b.. what is known as ''eye-sweet"-
not too sudden or abrupt-and properly blended
Ct their points of junction
CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS AND WALKS
NerV much OF personal comfort and pleasure
In suburban localities depends upon good roads
smooth. firm. dry road is one OF the greatest
c0nVenienceS ana enjoyments, while rough and
son muddy roads are among the greatest draw
backs aud ann0yauces anywhere. Bad roads
form tue greatest obstacles to progress and
permanent improvements In all neghborhoods
which ar" blasted with their existence: they
have dtnOralizing effect upon tie inhabitants,
ami are 4 sure sign either of poverty or mis-
IiaIagcnent, or both.
The main point involved IN maintaining q
good ROAD is 70 keep IT dry. Water is the worst
"neEiy 10 good reads clay road is gO0d
road long il i perfectly div In order
then, 70 Keep r0GJ, dry it il necessary to keep
II somewhat higher than the surrounding sur
face 80 that water viii leave it quickly. There
lore. the greater part of a walk should he laid
on The surface of the ground. Merely for q foot
walk no great depth of material is needed
Deep excavation filled up with stones and
finished level WITH ~. "a more frequently seen
little bower than the ground, Iaav he service
able for water courses. but comfortable and
dry foot path in all weathers Is not thus obtained
No good road ever vas. or ever can be- made of
gravel, AND those who have the best experience
in r"ad-inah!ng never use gravel. unless In some
Cases 10 Ill up nterstices In the surface. and
then half an inch So is al! that is necessary
The details Of road making may be briefly de-
scrib+d a. foiiOws:-After locating the road and
marking out lis course. the sides should ue
brought 70 the proper grade, and finished by
laying sod about u foot In width to keen the
edge perfect and as guide To further opera
lions The road bed Is then formed by exCayat-
Ing aid removing the soil to depth OF six
Inches below the top of the sod at the sides
Stopping y up 70 the center at the rate OF two
Inches 10 the yard. Thus road fourteen feet
wide woC.d be five inches higher in the center
than 81 the sides. This road bed should be made
perfectly smooth by rolling. so u 10 ensure q
uniform surface upon which the material of the
road : to be placed.
HE BEST STONE FOR ROAD MAKING
j. tough granite. Hard. brittle stone Ia more
r"adIiS reduced by pressure but for the bottom
layer THIS l. no defect. About four inches OF
roughly broken stones are first spread over the
ROAD b"d, then roller is passed over them to
press them somewhat in place aud to regulate
The surface for the next layer, which should con-
FIST OF broken stone. broken so that each niece
could pass through an inch and half ripn This
layer HIli III! about two inches and after being
IeNeitet bN rolling. a shrinking small errav.