The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-04-01
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Continued from page 1.)

worn on both sides, can be used for
gutter or macadam roads.
Its disadvantages are: (1) Rough sur
face. (2) Noise.
The most approved shape Of street
cross section is shown by two straight
lines seven inches below top OF curbs.
then rising one foot in forty toward the
center OF tho street coming together in
q circular curve ut the center of the
street This allows tho gutter to be
used as the road way clear to the curb,
and the water to go Immediately to tho
cutters, and when the cutters arc not
sufficient to carry it to tho crock or
drain, near openings are made in the
curb through which it pours into catch
basins and thence into drain pipes or
storm sewers.
Granite block is almost universally
recommended where the traffic is heavy.
Macadam. Since poorly constructed
macadam roadway is about tho worst
street imaginable, and one properly
contracted is, when kept moist and
clean, one of tho most comfortable, l
think it proper here to specify what l
mean by macadam street, by explain
ing its construction.
The sub-grade should be uniform in
shape, smoothncss and hardness; the
stone used should be both tough and
hard, and put on 10 inches thick, as
follows:
Three inches of size about inches in
diameter and rolled enough to make
them fixed and uniform in thickness; on
this second layer of three inches of
size about 2 or "a inches in diameter,
rolled in the Same way. On this third
layer of 2H inches. of size about IA
inches in diameter, rolled as before On
this the fourth and last LAYER of IL
inches, and of size not larger than one
third inch in diameter, and rolled as be-
fore. Then the most important work
begins, which is to roll the whole with
large steam roller, keeping the sur
face well sprinkled with water. This
should be continued until the surface is
compact and smooth, when it is ready
for service. Then, to get the best re-
suits, the street should be kept clean
and moist; and, when worn in ruts and
holes, which is plainly shown after Il
shower by the puddle of water, repairs
should be made by adding thin coat OF
top dressing and rolling it to compact
surface.
AS yet, we have no material at hand
of first rate quality for either stone or
brick paving or macadam. While we
have abundance of lime stone for mac.
adam, it is not as good for streets as
granite or trap. No stone near by has
been tried for paving, and no suitable
brick has been made near enough to
make brick paving economical. 1t is
hoped that the sandstone less than ten
miles on the north and the granite
about the same distance on the south
will prove satisfactory for this purpose,
and that first class paving brick will
soon be made within easy access. Yet
these Quarries need to be developed and
tried and the brick must be made to
stand the tests, and in the event of sue
cess, the city will derive two-fold
benefit in securing cheap road material
and home industries.
While l consider the granite block
and macadam the most appropriate
streets for the present needs and means
of the city, l would suggest that when
ready to begin the work, that specifca-
tions be prepared for these and other
kinds of good streets, and advertise for
bids to construct tho same; then when
the bids are in, you will be better able
to Judge which will be the best, all
things considered. In the meantime,
we should consider the propriety of
securing limestone or granite Quarries
near at hand, and the cost of labor and
machinery to make macadam TO ads in
order that we may be able to compare
this method with contract work Re-
spectfully, WILLIAM NJ. DUNLAP,
City Engineer.
The public property committee sub
mitted plans for charging the jail from
City Engineer Dunlap as follows:
Roanoke, Va, 30, 1891.
j. c. Graves. Esq, Chairman and Com
mittec on Public Property.
DEAR SIR: AS requested give below
an approximate cost of charging tho
jail to three times it's present capacity
Foundation. 283 cubic yards at Ss.S 2IO 80
Outside walls, 1913 cubic yards ut ST.. I2;}6 90
Removing end wall 10 yards ut Sj.. $50 o.
Floors, S}1 yards at SI3.50. 49,. 1lSO %
Partition walls, 32.S yards at Sl350... 442 so
iirick walls. ................ Isl 90
Moof.. :......... ......... ..... $50 70
at $;i5...., NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. $50 90
Sewerage, about. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 4tD on
licatiDg, about. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 400 0G
1851 90
WM. M. DUNLAP,