The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-21

A few DAYS since the editor OF the Jack
son TENN Wing took steps to learn the
cost OF the turnpike roads in Shelby county
and other facts relative to them. To this
end he addressed letter Of inquiry to Mr..
=. NJ. Winters, who referred il TO Maj.
George b. Fleece. Following is the reply
OF the latter gentleman, which appeared in
the Wing Of Wednesday last:
The turnpike system Of Shelby county
began under the general turnpike law Of
the State, in the year 1884. Since that
date turnpike construction has progressed
regularly ut the rate OF about six miles Of
new road per annum, the total length Of
completed roads being twenty-siK miles at
this date. To meet tho expense Of con-
struction the county has levied annually
tax Of 10 cents on the 500 valuation ~ q
turnpike tax" and has employed the
county conyicts in grading the roadbed
preparatory 20 using gravel The means
thus afforded have proven sufficient 20 the
construction OF about six miles Of turnpike
Per annum. The cash cost OF these roads
when thus constructed has been about
Si,0OO per mile, which amount covers total
amount of expenses for gravel, grading and
bridging.
The plan Of construction adopted for the
last year, 1887, is the following. The roads
are first beginning early in the
spring; plan Of roadway being width at
grade In cuts, thirty feet from outside TO
outside OF drain bitches, width nj grade on
embankment, twenty-five feet Both cuts
and fills are finished TO grade ready for the
gravel with even surfaces, and rounded up
from the sides uniformly, 10 as 10 form q
crown at the center OF about twelve inches
above the bottom Of the bitches and about
four inches above outside line Of roadway.
Upon this roadbcd gravel is deposited and
spread with smooth surface n depth Of
eight inches at the center, falling of Ia
nothing at the sides, the width Of gravel
roadway being eighteen feet for the frsi
two miles from the city and reduced 10
fourteen feet width at the third mile from
the city. Three widths Of gravel roadway,
allow margin OF graded earthroad OF two
icet ON each side.
The amount Of gravel required varies
from 100 10 $50 car loads OF 5000 pounds
weight, or say thirteen cubic yards con
tents 10 the milc-the larger amount be
ing required for an cightcon-icet roadway
the smaller for fourtccn.icct roadway
The cost of gravel delivered at Memphis
or nj contiguous stations, on the cans 4
generally so per car load Of 10000 pounds
weight The gravel used has been o
three kinds--to.wit: Tishomingo gravel
from the Memphis 4 Charleston railroad
Tennessee river gravel, from the Louisville
q Nashville railroad, and q small quantity
OF gravel obtained from points along the
line of tho Memphis, birmingham \ Al
lantic road, about twenty-five miles from
Memphis. The latter costs SIS pei
chr load delivered. The most sat
isfaclory material has been IN,
1ishomingo gravel, It's superior
ity consisting mainly In the nadi
ness With which Il i reduced Ia n smooth
surface under travel, and q consolidated
mass by conccting and settling The Ten
nesscc river gravel, however, has the meri
Of gruater hardness, and, iavomhly sit
uatcd, will make n smooth road, Of pcrhap.
greater durability than the Iishomingo
while u may DO objected Ia very fairly ~
account OF the fact that II takes consid
crahlc amount Of travel on Il Ia consolidate
the mass and reduce the surface 10
smooihnos, having no concrcting clcmon
init.
During the fnst year Of turnpike con
Eiruci0n the commissioners were induce,
by general public opinion 10 use a larry
amount Of broken or rubblc stone ~ a sub
grade, the gmycl being sprcad ON the toI
Of a stone foundation. This proved 10 b,
an unnecessary expense aud a posiiiv,
dotnmoni 10 the ruads In subsequent
construction dug mp and threw out o
the ruadbcu large quantity OF such Eion,
found In an old turnpike, which had be
come ~ irupanblC ~ 90 require thorough
reconstruction.
AL bridges, ~ inr, have been built o.
wood, and WHEN Of less than tweniy.ny,
icct length have been covered with gravel
being considered that the covering o
wood will lag many ycnrs longer thus GOV
ercd Than II left Exposed Ia travelling, as \
ordinarily the casc.
All culycrts built Tor the last three year
In localities In which two feet or lees waic
way Is required have been built Of tern
Gotta pipe.
In all the region adjacent 10 Memphis
and irom my knowledge Of the countr,