Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1891-04-17
PRIZE ESSAYS ON ROAD MAKING.
Valuable Suggestions on Construction and
Maintenance.

About q year ago q committee repre-
senting the University of Pennsylvania
offered three prizes Of $500, 5000 and 800
for the best three papers on road making
and maintenance. The award of prizes
was duly made last October, and the
three prize essays have appeared in book
form, together with five other essays, the
writers of which have received honor
able mention.
The first prize paper is by Henry Irwin,
of the engineering department, Canadian
Pacific railroad, Montreal. His essay is
based on experience while in charge
of district adjoining large town
where some of the finest macadamized
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 practi-
cally level road around a hill, though
it increases the distance one mile, would
effect saving in work equivalent to
$6,750 year, supposing the road to be
used by 100 farmers In hilly country
roads may generally with advantage fol-
low along water courses, railway fash
ion. The steepest grade of public road
should not exceed one foot in twelve, and
this for not more than 100 feet. A good
load may be taken up a grade Of one in
twenty for a length Of 400 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
a firm, dry roadbed. A road heaved by
the frost means a road badly drained.
Country roads may be macadamized for
a width of only eight feet if extreme
economy is necessary. But for constant
traffic the macadamized portion should
be sixteen feet wide. Where but one
sidewalk is constructed it should be on
the north or east sides, for there the sun
dries the walk more quickly. When the
roadbed is graded it should be rolled
several times with q roller of not less
than ten tons. In matchmaking hand
broken stone is much superior to that
crushed by a 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
fall. In dry summer weather loose
stones should be used for patching the
surface OF else stored in heaps along the
roadside.
''There is nothing strikes European
more on his arrival in North America, -
Mr.. Irwin says, ethan the excellence of
the railroads and the inferiority of the
roads. This inferiority may partly be due
to the fact that the rich, bothin the United
States 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
soads 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 &C
cordingly they spend greater part of
their lives slowly plodding over bad roads
without a thought Of trying to improve
them"
Good roads admit Of larger loads at
fo1 Of l.
when horses would otherwise be idle;
they practically shorten distances, en-
courage travel, benefit trade, enhance
the value Of lands and save money. It
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 q load six
months. Good, permanent macadam-
lied roads there would reduce the cost of
hauling three-fourths. The defective
highways Of Illinois cost it annually an
extra $l5, 100000 for hauling, and depre-
ciate its farms $3.50, 100000
The second prize paper is by David II.
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
It 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 macadam.
The board Of adjudicators awarding
these prizes, consisting Of seven prom
inent Philadelphians, join in the follow
ing recommendations to the committee
on better roads.
First-That in the Improvement of
roads the macadam system, consisting
of small angular fragments, in sizes no..
exceeding from two to two and ha.
inches in their longest dimension, ac-
cording to quality, should be used,
wherever stone surface is both practi-
cable and justifable.
Second--That the minimum width of
the metaled surface for single track
should be demirod ct feet), of such depth
as the amount of traffic and character of
the subsoil may require, to be deter
mined by the engineer in charge
Third-That the bed to receive the
stone must be SO prepared that it cannot
be saturated with water, and to accom-
plish this great attention should be paid
to the character and drainage Of the sub
soil.
Fourth-That there should be legisla-
tive enactment regulating the width of
the tires Of the wheels, and that the
minimum width of all cart, dray, wagon
OF other heavy draught vehicles should
be four inches, to he 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.
Lucrative Business.
There is good money in canvassing if it
is properly worked. l have sometimes
made s25 ga day, and always average 40,
but that is nothing compared to book
agent | know, who makes every year from
$4,000 to $4,000. He has a speciality, how
ever-rare old books and etchings. But he
is canvasser. That man hires carriage
when he is at work and his profits are