The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1891-04-01
palzE ESSAYS ON ROAD MAKING.
Valuable Suggestions ON Construction and
sIafntenancc

About a year ago u committee repre-
senting the University of Pennsylvania
offered three prizes of 800, 5000 and 500
for the best three papers ON road making,
and maintenancc. The award of prizes
was duly made last October, and the
three prize essays havc appeared in book
form, together with five other essays. the
writer's of which have received honor
able mention.
The first prize paper is by Henry Irwin,
of the engineering department., Canadian
Pacific railroad. Montreal. Ills essay is
based on experience while. in charge
of a district adjoining u large town
where some of the finest InacadaInized
roads are to be found, and while driv-
ing for many years over some of the
worst highways in the adjacent county.
First, Mr.. Irwin shows that Il practi-
cally level road around hill. though
it increases the distance one mile, would
effect a saving in work equivalent to
$3.50 u year, supposing the road to be
used by 100 farmers. In n llilly country
roads may generally with advantage fol-
low along water courses, railway fash
ion. The steepest grade of u public road
should not exceed one foot in twelve, and
this for not more than 100 feet. a good
load may be taken up Il grade of one in
twenty for n length of 200 feet. This is
the steepest slope allowable on a road
with much traffic. A long stretch of a
perfectly level road is not desirable on
account of drainage.
Drainage is the first item to be looked
after, and is second in importance to
none. Money is well spent that secures
hrm, dry roadbcd. a road heayed by
the frost means n road bully drained.
Country roads may be macadamized for
q width of only eight feet if extreme
economy is necessary. But for constant
traffic the macadamized portion should
lie sixteen feet wide. Where but one
Sidewalks constructed it should be on
the north or cast sides, for there the sun
dries the walk moro quickly. When the
roadbed is graded it should be rolled
several times with roller of not less
than ten tons. In macadamizing hand
broken stone Is much superior to that
crushed by machine, which is gener-
ally of irregular shape and does not
readily bind together, an essential mat
ter. The best time to apply the stone is
during hot weather in the spring and
tall. In dry summer weather loose
stones should be used for patching the
surface or else stored in heaps along the
roadside.
There is nothing strikes European
moro on lis arrival in North America. =
Mr.. Irwin says, ethan the excellence of
tho railroads and the inferiority of the
roads. This irferiority may partly be due
tothe fact that the rich, both in the United
Se2tcs and Canada, almost invariably
live in the cities, where the roads are
better kept up, or else in the immediate
neighborhood of towns which they can
reach by rail. The country roads seem
to be principally used by farmers. to
whom time seems to be no object, and
who do not apparently realize that, good
roads can be profitable, since they do not
actually place dollar bills in their hands.
and who seem to think that the ONLY
way to increase their income is to sell
more produce, no matter how much it
may cost to draw it into market, and ac-
cordingly they spend greater part of
their lives slowly ploddinS over bad roads
without a thought of trying to improve
them
Good roads admit of larger loads at
greater speed; of use in wet weather
when horses would otherwise be idle;
they practically shorten distances, en-
courage travel, benefit trade, enhance
the value of lands and save money. 1t
has been estimated that in Illinois full
load can be carried on the roads only
three months in the year; two-thirds of
a load three months, and half load six
months. Good, permanent macadam-
lied roads there would reduce the cost of
hauling three-fourtls. The defective
la rr1N .nf
extra $15, 900 900 for hauling, and depre-
ciate its farms S160, ,O00, 600.
The second prize paper is by David 81.
Bergey, of North Wales, Pa.
Mr.. Bergey, like Mr.. Irwin. approves
most highly the Telford and macadam
systems. For either system the bed of
the road should receive some preparation
before the work of construction begins.
1t should be excavated, leaving four
inch elevation or ridge in the middle,
and gradually slope toward the edges.
This saves some material in the construc-
ton of the.road, besides giving the road
way an arched contour. This feature is
valuable. especially in thin nacadam.
The board of adjudicators awarding
these prizes, consisting of seven prem
inent Philadelphians, join in the follow.
ing observation-disclosures TO the committee
on better roads.
First-That in the improvement of
roads the ln2cadam system, consisting
of small angular fragments, in sizes not
exceeding from two to two and u half
inches in their. longest dimension. ac-
cording to quality, should be used,
wherever q stone surface is both practi-
cable and justifiable.
Second-That the minimum width OF
the inetaled surface for a single track
should be demirod (sl feet), of such depth
as the amou- of traffic and character of
the subsoil may require, to be deter
mined by the engineer in charge.
Thir1-1 the bed to receive the
stone must o prepared that it cannot
be saturated w-th water, and to accom-
plish this Groct attention should be paid
to the character and drainage of the sub
soil.
Fourth-fhat there should be legisla-
tive cnactme-- regulating the width ct
the tires OF t':e wheels, and that the
minimum wi,ltn of all cart, dray, wagon
or other he ? draught vehicles should
be four incl :, to be increased when the
capacity of the vehicle exceeds half a
net ton per wheel at the rate of one
inch for each 400 pounds in excess.