Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1890-09-06
GENERAL NEWS.


The following article, condensed by
the New York Engineering Neccs from
a circular issued by the Roads I'm
provement Association of England"
an organization formed to distribute
matter for the education of local high
way authorities, road contractors, and
others, on the proper construction,
maintenance and repair of highways,
is here commended with special EN-.
phasls to our own street and road SUI
pervisors. The actual size of the larg-
est stone allowable for road repair
recommended by the association, as
illustrated by the Neos, is pyramidal
in shape, and l! inches each in height
and breadth Of base:
Never allow a hollow, a rut or a puddle to
remain on Il road, but fill it up at once with
chips from the stone heap. Always use chips
for patching, and for all repairs during the
summer months. Never put fresh stones on
the road if by cross picking and thorough
use of the rake the surface can be made
smooth and kept at the proper strength of
section. The rake is the most useful tool in
your collection, and it should be kept close
at hand the whole year around. Never
spread large patches of stone over the whole
width OF the road, but coat the middle or
|. horseback first, and, when this has worn i'll,
| coat each ofthe sides in turn. In moderately
dry weather, and ON hard roads, always pick
up the old surface INTO ridges ms. apart, and
remove all large and projecting stones before
applying new coating. Neverspread stones
more than one stone deep but add second
layer when the first has worn i'll. if one coat
ing be not enough. Use stecl-prongcd fork
to load the barroWS at the stone heap, so that
the siitings may be Available for 'binding'
and Tor summer repairs. Never shoot stones
on to the road and crack them where they lie
oraSmoOth surface will be ont of the question
Go over the whole Of the new coating every
day or two with the rake. and never leave
the stone ridges Never put stone upon Il
road Tor repairing purposes that Will not pass
freely IN every direction through I'm. rng
and remember that still smaller stones should
| be used for patching and for all slight re-
| pairs. Hard stone should be broken to a
finer gauge than soft, but the 2-in. guage is
the largest that should be employed under
, any circumstances. Never be without your
| ring guage 1t should be to the roadman
what the compass is to the mariner; and if
| you have no rlng-guage remember Macadam' 5
advice that any stone you cannot easily put
in your mouth should be broken smaller.
| Use nothing but chips for binding newly
| laid stones together, and remember that road
sweepings, horse droppngs sods Of grass
and other rubbish, when used for this pur-
| pose, will ruin the best made road.
Water-worn or rounded stones should
| never be used upon steep grades, or they will
| fail to bind together.
Never allow dust or mud to lie on the sur
| face of the road, for either of these will
| double the cost of maintenance Dust be-
comes mud at the first shower, and mud
forms a wet blanket which will keep Il road
in filthy condition for weeks at time in
stead of allowing it to dry in a few hours.
See that all sweepings and scrapings are put
into heaps and carted away Immediately.
The middle of the road should always be a
little higher than the sides, SO that the rain
| may run into the Side-gutterS at once. Never
allow the water-tables, cutters anI. bitches to
clog up, but keep them clear the whole year
through Always be upon your road in wet
weather, and at once fill up with ''chlps' any
hollows or rutS where the rain may lie.
When the main coatings of stone have worn
in, 20 over the whole road. and, gathering
together all the loose stones, return them to
the stone heap for use in the winter to follow
annoyance, and should never be allowed to
lie on any road.
Never allow the grating bars of any gutter
or drain to remain parallel with the road,
but always set them CrOsSWiSe, and So avoid
serious accidents. No grating, man.trap,
water plug, gas pipe, or drain should ever be
allowed to project above the surface of the
road under any circumstances.
Remember that any negligence ON your
part may cause the ratepayerS to lose the
benefit of the Government grant-glven to-
ward all main roads kept in an efficient atatc
of repair-as well rs render your surveyor or
overseer liable to an action ut law.