The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1890-06-27
AN ESTIMATE OF THE COST.
The Expense Involved In Securing Desira-
BILE Highways.


improvement is published in The Wheel,
from the pen of ''Viator," which cannot
fail to interest 'cyclers and farmers who
are carrying on vigorous campaign for
better roads. The most salient points OF
"Viators" argument are given below:
The American mind is nothing if not
practical. The subject of road improve
ments has gained so firm hold on the
attention of our people that it is simply
now question of time, economic method
and financial ability when the roads OF
the country at large will be macada-
mized; in other words, our ordinary dis
graceful, wasteful, dirt roads will have
become Foundation roads," To promote
ga consummation devoutly to be wish
ed" it is only necessary now to demon
strate the practicability of the reform,
and to show that it is within the finan-
cial ability of the average township to
have, without delay, first class roads to
an extent commensurate with their ne
cessites.
1t has been settled by long, patient,
costly and scientific experiment that the
motive power of a horse on a "founda-
ton" broken stone road is exactly double
that of the same animal on an earth road
in very good condition. The experiments
of NORM in 1854 have established that
beyond question. The saving in time is
very much greater. The writer has HIM
self recently seen a pair of ordinary
horses trotting at the rate of six miles
per hour over a macadam road, hauling
wagon containing 1000 pounds (more
than three gross tons) of crushed stone
on a level grade.
How, then, is it practicable to procure
such roads-at least in the majority of
our older states?
We will suppose that the area of the
average township is equal to three miles
square, and that to put in touch with the
great country road, and especially with
markets and railroad stations, it is nee
essary to give it two intersecting "foun-
dation" roads, making in all twelve
square miles of improved road. Of
course the existing roads would be util-
lied, but on this principle it may be as
sumed that these roads can be completed
for 81, 900 per mile, and kept in repair
for 8 per cent. annually of their first
cost. This would give $4,000 as the
sum needed for which to issue bonds.
The yearly charge would then be per
cent. interest on S4S, 000-S2, 400; sinking
fund, per cent. annually, for thirty
years, $3.50; total, $2,SS0. The repairs
are not here included in the annual cost,
because they are needed in any event,
but under the present systems are COM
pletely wasted.
The outcome of the plan here indicated
would be that as the sinking fund would
liquidate the bonds at maturity the town.
ship at the end of thirty years would
have at least twelve miles of thoroughly
good road paid for, and which could be
always maintained at a less cost than is
now expended on roads that are some
times well nigh impossible. But this is
an infinitesimal part of the benefit aris-
ing from the improvement. In many
cases the only reason why city business
men do not reside in some choice locali-
ties is that they cannot have the pleasure
of driving over good roads. Their settle
ment in any rural district at once causes
the value of property to increase. In
crease of population brings customers to
the farmers doors for milk, butter, eggs,
fruit and vegetables. 1t establishes
churches, schools, postoffices, libraries,
and, finally, villages. So that in the pro
forma case of twelve miles under consid-
Grafton the certainty would be that be-
fore the maturity of the thirty year bonds
at least double the mileage would be de-
manded and built.
The estimated price of $4,000 per mile
here given is intended to apply to six
inch macadam roads based on the exper-
fence of building in New Jersey. But
this figure is meant for roads that can be
constructed by machinery. The demand
for such roads has developed the fact
that they may be so built by bringing to-
gether machinery that hitherto has been
used separately and not to the greatest
advantage. It is now seen that traction
engines may be used in conjunction with
automatic stone spreading machines and
steam rollers in one continuous train, SO
as to actually build and perfect mile of
macadam road in from three days to q
week, according to the distance over
which the material has to be hauled.
A construction train would consist of
first, a seven ton traction engine in the
lead as hauler; next, ten to twenty stone
spreading wagons, containing twenty to
forty tons crushed stone, according to
the amount of motive power employed;
third, a fifteen ton steam roller, used
partly as pusher, which thoroughly
compacts the stone just spread by the
machines ahead of it.
Col. Pope quotes Professor jerks as au-
thority for the statement that 1.-The Hi
nois roads cost $15, SAG, 900 in extra haul
ing, and reduce the value of farms at
distance from railway depots by $780,
100000. If Illinois spent $3.50, 100000 on
good roads, the total interest on this sum
would still leave enough Of the sum now
spent on hauling to build a new state
capitol every year. Good roads would
save the state its state taxes every year.
Waking Up to the Situation.