The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-01-03
County Roads Again.
AUSTIN, December 80, 1888

! AUSTIN, December 30, 1883.
To the Editor of The Statesman
Since the subject of improving our
county roads begins to assume the in-
portanoe it deserves, and is exciting gen
eral interest throughout the state, a con
trltbuion npon the suhjeot of their per-
manent yet economical improvement may
be acceptable to your many readers.
The following suggestions were written
for the Dallas convention, but are adapted
just as we'll to this locality, and take the
liberty of sending them to The STATES
MAN:
In the first place judicious selec-
ton must be made of such roads
to be improved as will pene-
trete the widest territory not already
provided with railroad facilities for reach
ing market at all times with the crops
of the country.
In the second place, the alignment of
these roads so selected should be improved
as regards grades and the crossing of
streams, using as far as possible direct
lines and not following the fence lines
around the three sides of farm, thus in
creasing distance and cost.
In the third place, the roadway should
be made wide enough at all points to
allow macadamized roadbed twenty five
(25) feet wide in the middle, with BERNIE
on each side five feet wide, and side bitches
and their slopes at least ten feet wide out
side of this, or, say, roadway sixty (60)
feet in width, at least.
! With the material excavated from the
side bitches, the roadbed should be raised
and crowned one foot high in the middle,
and then we'll rolled with 5000 pound
iron roller until it is as firm and compact
and smooth as possible.
Upon this should be placed
in hand by six-inch layer of
stone set on edge in rows at right
angle to the line of the road, the interstice
filled with rock chips hammered in with
an iron hammer weighing at least fifty
pounds.
Upon this again should be carefully
spread a six-inch layer of crushed hard
stone mot the soft white ROCKY, this to be
covered with a six-inoh layer of course
gravel thoroughly rolled with the 5000
pound iron roller.
All streams crossing the line of the
road must be provided with good and sub
stantial bridges or culverts, with sufficient
waterway, aud all side bitches 80 graded
as to drain into these streams.
No grade line should be used that is
greater than rise of six (6) feet in one
hundred Q00)
To accommodate the concentrated trav-
ell in the vicinity of the county seat the
roadbed within five miles should be thirty
(30) feet wide instead of twenty five (25.)
In my judgment road thus con-
s,ructed will be the most permanent and
economical, and will at all times afford
easy draught for all reasonable loads, and
a most pleasant drive for vehicles, and
require but little annual repair.
The work, however, must be done in a
thorough manner under the supervision
of competent, experienced engineer.
Where the road passes over sandy land,
think Unnecessary to use only the single
layer of six inches of crushed hard rock
with the six (6) inch layer of gravel, and
on rocky or stony land it will be sufficient
to grade and drain the roadbed.
estimate that such road in Travis
county will cost fifty COY cents per lineal
foot, or $2,64000 per mile graded, drained
and macadamized, and would recommend
that the work be done by contract, while
all repairs may be done by county convict
labor. Respectfully,
w. M. JOHNSON, @. u.
Engine to the Capitol Furnishing Board