Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-21

lous points in the county, or to the boundary
lines of the county, and those connecting with
other populous points. etc. Roads include all
| thoroughfares now designated as township
! roads; lanes private roads, now used only Tor
| ingress and egress from roads to highways, or
| individual property.
HIGHWAY TAX.
The County Commissioners are to take cogni-
zance of the classification and levy an annual
| highway tax not exceeding ~ mills on the dol
| lar on the valuation for county purposes. The
County Treasurer shall set aside ~ mills of all
taxes collected for State purposes and this
added to the highway tax, shall constitute a
highway fund to be applied to the permanent
improvement and repair Of highways SO deSig-
| mated and bridges which form part, the
| County Commissioners and Engineer to
constitute a board to determine amount
and character of work, provided that
not less than 40 per cent of the
highway fund shall be expended in macadamiz-
ing or otherwise permanently improving the
same; proposals for work to be advertised, and
all contracts let to the lowest responsible
bidder
The width of all highways shall not be less
than so feet and of roads not less than 40 feet;
provided, however, that all existing roads and
highways which have been established of
greater widths than herein provided under the
provisions of previous statutes, or which have
been constructed by Incorporated companies,
surrender of charter shall be maintained at the
widths so first established.
The County Engineer is required by the pro-
posed act to make a complete return at the
close of each year of the amount of work
DONE cost, ETC., and a full report In detail of
the condition of roads and highways at the
time OF making report, and to send copy of
the same, together with 8 copy of the road map
OF the county, to the Surveyor General, whose
duty it shall be to make a connected plan of
the highways of the several counties of the
Commonwealth; and shall make summary re-
port of the whole annually.
The proposed act is quite long, and the
various provisions cannot be given in detail
in the scope of this review, but the most ma
terial parts are covered. There may be valid
objection raised to the proposed width of
roads, as in most parts of the country Is feet
is amply wide to accommodate the traffic,
room for teams to pass being all that is abso-
Iutely necessary to accomplish all aimed at
in the bill.
AN ENGINEERS VIEWS.
II Neidig, mechanical engineer and ex-
pert, of Wampum, is also interested. in the
subject of public roads. He has taken the
pains to write the following letter to TIE
DISPATCH:
There is not another problem awaiting solu-
tion in which such wefghty economic interests
Stone and gravel pixies can be made to an
swer fair purpose. but when the material for
the road is not in Its immediate vicinity high
ways of this character are too costly. Figure
as may, when good road of this kind is
paid for its cost viii seldom be under $50 per
mile. Plank roads also are thing Of the past.
The present miscalled system of road making
is an inheritance Of barbarism, and is a slur on
the intelligence of the age.
What is wanted is a road that may finally be-
come universal, that may be built anywhere,
under any conditions-a road that will answer
for all sections, that may be national in its
character and which, while it meets every
utilltarian requirement is still not too costly.
1t must be demonstrated that the road of the
future will pay fair per cent on its invest |
ment. The Old-time road gets its detrimeCt
when in soft condition, and almost wholly |
from the continuous cutting action of the |
wheels. When hard freeze takes place it is
the track of the vehicle that is the hardest to
contend with.
OVERCOMING RESISTANCE.
When the wheels cut below the surface Of
the roadway, from 80 to 80 per cent of the
power of the team is expended in overcoming |
the resistance in front of the wheels. Under |
similar conditions locomotive would be pow
erless. !
1t is evident that if the wheels be provided |
for, and such a condition be secured that they |
roll on a smooth, even and unyielding track, |
that the problem is mainly solved 1t is a crude |
conception that suggests that this must be |
done by providing solid track from 10 to 20 |
feet wide. This might be the conception of a |
rustic, but it ought not 10 be that of an engi- |
neer. How to meet and solve this problem, |
both from an engineering and an economic |
point of view, will be something as follows:
An iron track, somewhat analogous to |
streetcar track, must be provided for the |
wheels. This may be an iron bar six OF eight |
inches. fat on the under and slightly cOncave |
on the upper surface That is to say, the bar |
is passed through rolls, leaving the upper side |
The middle may be three-eighths and gradually |
to the edges fve-eighths of an inch thick. The |
bar thus fashioned, is to rest on plank laid |
lengthwise underneath and this, to rest on |
stone, short posts or cross-ties, and the track |
to be nearly even with the general surface.
GETTING OFF IS SIMPLE.
The writer has elaborated every detail of this |
road in its various forms of construction, sim |
gle or double track. The vehicle readily re-
tains its position the track, and getting off |
or on is a simple matter.
1t is not necessary to do much grading: the |
team travels between the rails and this space |
may be cobbled, graveled or cindered, or left |
as the main thing has been Sc
cured-a roadway for the wheels. Such road
is tremendous factor in its own construction,
as good track is at once secured to transport !
on, and as to cost 1t is considerably |
less than either plank, stone gravel.
This would open up new feld for iron add /
largely to the value of farms along and near its
lines, would be powerful auxiliary to local |
would add immensely to the
common wealth, while hauling and driving
would be a pleasure to man and beast alike.
On no other kind of road can loads be hauled |
so large SO rapidly and it can be shown that
as toll road. at only moderate charge, from
Is to % per cent per annum can be realized on
cost, clear of the expense of wear and tear.
The views of engineers on this mothod are
solicited,