The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-11-22
FOR BETTER ROADS.
WILL A MACADAM ROAD PAY ITS COST
EVERY TEN YEARS.

The following paper was read by
Mr. 5. IL. Downing, of East Goshen,
member of the State Board of Agricul-
ture, at the autumn meeting held at
New Castle, Lawrence county, Pa,
October 23, 1889:
A prominent Philadelphia journal
in recent number asserts that the
main country roads of Pennsylvania
macadamized within the best standard
would save their cost every ten years
and their interest every six months.
In the report to this board, 1888,
Secretary E 1ge approaches this state
ment very closely, think, in saying
that iu the case of the worst parts of
township roads sufficient sum to per-
manently improve them is expended
in temporary repairs every ten years.
Seing these statements falling from
excellent authority and deeming them
worthy of consideration, l thought
that an answer to the question, "Will
macadam road pay its cost every ten
years?" might prove both interesting
and profitable
There is broad advocacy now by
the press and our monthly publications
of good macadam roads" The stress
seems to be for the best and in what.
ever remember of the argument for
good macadam roads, the propositio on
seems always emphasized that the best
is the cheapest. And yet it is asked
here and there, under the idea that
economy means low price, "Why
should your mile of stone road cost
$4,000, when $1,000 will build it?" 1t
may be matter of wonder with some
that man not overly rich will pay
$500 for pair of pantaloons when a
pair can be bought for three. Of the
two,the higher priced,as rule, may be
better worth the buying. A sixteen
foot road composed of heavy field
stone surfaced by feeble scum OF
rubble may cost but $500 in the lay
ing is but the beginning OF its costs.
As the So pantaloons must be restitch.
ed, rebuttoned, darned, patched, per-
haps dyed, so with the low-priced
road, The heavy blocks will rise, the
small stone disappear and it will re-
quire great and continual cost to save
the anatomy and tissues of those who
travel over them from dislocation aud
disruption. There will always be
complaint as to them, expense, dis
comfort in such roads, and the only
remedy for the grievance they impart
is to take up the roads to the utmost,
grind and relay them Thus it is
pleasant to note that there is spirited
urging of good macadam roads"
The macadam principle may involve
the higher price, but then it is an eco
nomic principle, costly at first but a
source of satisfaction, ease, speed, saw
ing in draft and money. The maca-
dam road Is simply composed of fine
stone solidifed, unified by pressure
and bound with stone screenings.
AS TO WIDTH.
The only pike entering West Chest
er is single track. 1t is parallel within
a radius of one mile by two dirt roads,
and yet the pike has paid seven per
cent, simply because during winter the
travel centers on it, Notwithstanding
toll and the single track. In other
words neither toll or single track, with
its overimagined difficulty in passing
will drive travellers to the dirt roads in
winter however constantly the dirt
roads may be scraped, drained and
thrown to the centre. But in order to
be within the lines of popular idea we
will incorporate the 16.foot width
road in my estimate.
A bed of fine stone, nine inches
thick, well interocked by rolling anG
thoroughly bound will easily have the
resistance Of a twelve inch bed ol
loose, large, incompact stone.
Mr.. A. j. Cassatt was elect, d Super
visor of Tredyffrin township, Chester
county, and again reelected He
supervised the construction of maca
dam roads during his incumbency, and
laid them, am informed, nine inche,
thick on lowaDds and six on uplands
an average of seven and a hal
inches.
AS 10 COST AND CAPACITY OF MACH
INERY.
A crusher that will crush eight,
perch of stone per day will cost, will
beltpg, $500. A wagon for moving
1t will cost 5000, making a Thousand
dollars. AS crusher will turn ou
stone as rapidly as uay be required b,
four townships, then each of the fou
townships by pooling would be at tn
expense of $3.50 in the ownership of {
crusher. A crusher set on wheels car
be transported by traction engine a,
readily as thresher.
Stone can be crushed at Is cents
perch. Thus turning out 80 perch a
10 cents, the earnings per day will b.
Sl2, sufficient to meet three mem
wages and the rent of and coal con
sumed by traction engine.
Traction engines can be rented whej
not used in threshing. With the ad
dition of stone car, engines can dray
stone to the dump and at the sam
time serve in lieu of rollers.
Stone can be hauled from the fiel
or quarried, if not too hard, for 2
cents. Hauled from yard to crushe
and crushed for 25 cents. Hauled t.
the road oed for 25 aud so cents, col
responding with distance, say an avel
age of 81 cents, The sum of thes
costs equals the cost of S74 cents pc
perch, But in order to satisfy a
opinion that may prevail that tn
crushing and delivery of stone wi
cost more, we will run the estimate u
to dollar per perch, Again, and
face of the fact that quarrymen are O
tering to quarry and crush stone
90 cents a perch, which offer,
course, includes a profit, iudicatin
that stone can be quarried, hauled
the crusher aud crushed at a cost
about fifty cents a perch.
COST or REPAIR.
As TO the sum of difference betwe,
the cost Of repair of macadam al
dirt roads.
The opinion of Macadam himse
obtains somewhat in this computatio
, | He affirmed before a committee of n