Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-05-22
PLAN ADOPTED IN NEW Jrpsa.


PM " Duii'iiiAk rev roads ma
the recent enactment in New .Ie,.-ss
described in an interview publishs3
The New York Times. He saw.
In consequence of the rlinons "a
of the continued rains of the n... el'a
upon the roads and highways abons y ~
York, extraordinary interest hA. ~ ~
manifested by property owners - :
suburban counties in the system If -,
making inaugurated by Mr.. Cham
B. Ripley in Union county. Nj D.
that have been considered of the =
class, and that have cost enough to,.s
a solid and durable highway. have ~
so softened by the wet weather that n.
have succumbed to the strain az ~
nary teaming, and are cut to pieces =
scanned with dangerous ruts.
Respecting work on country roaa. /.
said Mr.. Ripley, ''the work in NJ.
county is progressing slowly. but aoo,s
ing to contract, rigidly in all cases M.
questions have been asked me about 4.
provisions of the contracts under vA,s
we are working, mostly by leasr
which am still receiving from man,
sections of country suburban to n,
York. should be glad to answer H..
once for all. Our public roads are y,
orally laid out GO feet wide on n
width one-fifth, or about 10 feet. on Al
side is allowed and used for sidew,R,
and shade trees. The country roads Il
macadamized only 10 feet in width al
feet on each side of the center n.
which the surveyor first defines ss
which, when found, controls all oar
lines in the progress of the work.
1.-The first among the essentials Of aim
class road is drainage. The contrss
specifications and drawings all provit
for such a grade as shall carry of u
water from the surface of the road All
that which percolates through the son.
Before any stone is laid the roadbei
perfectly graded, with reference to shs
ding water toward the side as wells
carrying it off lengthwise. The cent?
of the roadbed is higher, and the 10,
to each side is regular. A shoulder Is IA
ON each margin of the 16-fOot bed Sar
the foundation stones cannot spral
The roadbed is made smooth and r0la
before any stones are placed on it
after its preparation is complied
layer Of blocks of stone about 70 inchs
long by 6 or inches on the sides is al
each stone by hand. Each stone saHt
an inch or so away from other souA
The stones of the first layer are prsT
uniform in size, and of trap rock, NJ
crack or split easily when struck viii
stone hammer, which is used on the iq
of each stone till all are broken into, "
half dozen pieces. The broken piss
fall down wedge shape, spreading -
to fill the vacant spaces left betweena
blocks, as originally laid, and fon
mass of wedged stones that will staul
the position they are left by the hsmne
forever, we may almost say. Aftsal
the roller is applied, and the stona =
packed by rolling. Then laya 1
larger stones is placed upon this foahA
ton, say stones of the size Of 2ps|
inches on a side. This layer i ID
rolled. and finer grade is used On q
till stone dust and gravel complete
evenness of the surface. The roller y
in use on the Union county roads 4
steam roller, and has a pressure Of iVa'
tons.
"what do such roads cost, and hoEi
is the money raisedF
"The cost is about $1,000 amis
Judge by observation and imported =
ports. 1t is not far from that SUM- g
safely say. 1t seems a great deal to =
not acquainted with road making
not. We have few good roads u g
county that have not cost at leas1 =
amount of money per mile, And Z
wear out in few years. The n
under our county act is raised BY or
running twenty years at II per esl.
terest. The interest on these cons
all that the present generation VIII y
to pay, as n rule. II is very hgll
when spread over county. AnnF
owning a house and lot worth Sl"N
having s., 900 more out at nterese
me the other day his yearly tax "
not be more than dollar or TWO ga
on account OF these roads. Altno~
first a croaker and opposed 70 1ns-
is now in favor of the roads. II
"But when the bonds fall due "
then" -
"Wheu the bonds fall due Unlon G-
will contain three times the NUNS
inhabitants it has at present. Az
taxable property will be three l-s
great. This we are safe IN 49,
and more. ju lying the future O' y
two decades. have fresh eVla-
every dsv of the increasing inIe's
improving carriage roads IN ho'-
Orange. Dutchess and Westehes.s 4
ties in New York. The earn
Of water from the excessive ram.
we are passing through that the ~
of gravel roads has been put Z
test than ever before IN the ne.
this generation. This accounts
degree for the increased me.
makes better roads greater ny
Gravel Top.
Mr.. Clemens Herschel, who's s Z
on road making is prlnsea +
L. IN Tff't1 II lllEiA+ -