Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1889-12-05

reduce the cost OF tTanSnlI 10 Cne
uttermost. IF by the improvement
of the rural roads, four horses could
be enabled to do the work of five,
the saving Of the country in agri-
cultural horses would not be less
than seven million a year"
A mile of good macadamized road
is more easily supported than poor
horse.
Prof. jerks says:
"On Illinois roads full load for a
two horse team can be carried for
three months Of the year, two-thirds
of II load for three months, and half
load for six.
Good roads are then unquestion-
ably cheaper to maintain and to use
than poor ones.
1t is safe to say that perfect road
once laid down will cost far less to
keep in repair from year to year, at
the end OF twenty years will have
required far smaller total expend-
iture than poorer road costing half
as much and improperly made.
A properly built highway, con-
structed upon any one of the sys-
TENS accepted as the best for their
various purposes and locations, must
necessarily be made with solid and
firm foundation, efIectually separat-
ing the surface from the soil below.
1t should be thoroughly drained,
and provided with water-courses at
the side, and a hard and compact
surface, as smooth as the nature of.
its composition will admit of, and
free from mud, dust, and loose stones.
TO reach this degree of perfection,
the best obtainable materials must
be used. 1t requires good labor,
ample time In construction, and
above all, the science and skill of
professional engineer, whose busi-
ness Is road making.
Certain kinds of roads are accept
ed as the best under certain condi-
tions. For the country, it is essen-
tial to make use of such material as
nature furnishes for each locality,
but more attention should be paid
than generally Is, to the first princi-
Piles laid down by such road builders
as Macadam and Telford; so far,
certainly, as they provide for thor
ough drainage,and for homogeneous,
even surfaces of the best materials
within reach, and then for syste-
matte care and repair.
Country roads needs be no wider
than Is absolutely necessary for the
accommodation of the traffic and
travel that will come upon them.
In many places road wide enough
for a single team, is all that is nee
ssary with suitable turnouts, for it is
unwise and expensive to attempt to
maintain a country roadway wider
than the requirements of the COM
munity demand. The sides can be
grassed down, making the road
more agreeable to the eye and a
source of comfort in the greater free
dom from dust.
For suburban roads nothing can
be better than what is known as
Macadam system with firm and
well-drained foundations six or
eight inches Of crushed stone, as
near as possible to uniform size,
from one to two inches in diameter,
very compactly pressed down by
steam roller, and with thin crust
Of fine gravel on top.
A broad and well-shaded street
contributes more than some of us
realize to the attractiveness and
health Of city. What can be more
beautiful than such avenues as Del
aware of Buffalo, Euclid Of Cleve-
land, Woodward of Detroit, in their
best portions, the splendid aud con-
stantly improving streets of our ma
tional capital and Commonwealth
avenue and Beacon Street IN our
city, atfording rs they do, most
appropriate setting for the finest re-
suitGof the architects skill, each
example of which leads on to
greater and better efforts in spirit
of Rivalry which is the healthiest
sign of city's vigorous prosperity
andgrowth.
While the Macadam system Is
durable, and by all means the most
and satisfactory for its
cost forstreets Immediately outlying
the city proper and for those used
principally for pleasure driving; in
the central business portions, where
more active traffic is to be provided
for, where commerce plants her
heavy foot, and the wear and tear
are considerable, there are no better
and more appropriate pavements
than granite blocks, or perhaps the
best grades of fire brick, where the
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