The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-09-13

The second series Of meetings, under
the auspices Of the Commercial Asso-
citation. to discuss matters relating to
the welfare of Roanoke, was held last
night in the rooms of tho association.
Col. A. Pope presided, and in calling the
meeting to order, stated thatthe princi-
pal feature of the evening was the read
ing OF paper on streets and street
paving by j. c. Rawn.
The paper was very interesting, and
was listened to with close attention by
the gentleman present. Mr.. Rawn said
that no topic could have been chosen by
tho association for discussion more
practicable, pertinent and promising
immediate benefit to the commercial
pursuits af this city, and appreciation
in values OF real property, than streets
| and street paving.
The speaker said that ii would hardly
be within the limits of the paper, nor
the time Of the association, to discuss
all the methods of street paving, but he
would attempt to show that what we
need at once, are streets placed in con-
dltlon by such means as we now have at
hand, which can be done at minimum
cost without delay, and without detri-
mont to the higher class pavements
which may in tho future follow. the
way having been prepared for them by
tho means which may now be employed
for our immediate relief.
lie confined his statements entirely
to discussion of macadam pavement
as being the best means at hand for
making good streets without DELAY
without RI fnt
but rather as an economical feature for
their development and as a foundation
suitable and necessary to their con-
struction. Macadam is very old &C
| qualntance. 1t was the pavement upon
which many Of us for years lived, and
was tho only Improvement on the ordi-
nary dirt road. When properly built it
carried safely and economically tho
trade Of many OF Pennsylvania towns
and cities for years, and only grew into
dlsfavor when either compared with the
luxurious and expensive sheet asphalt
or heavy, ear-splitting. flth-collecting
belgian block, or was brought into con-
tempt by improper and unskillful
methods of construction. Some con-
slider macadam as merely tumble of
loose stone and dirt, or broken stone
thrown upon a street to be worn down
and compacted by tho traffic and ac-
emulation Of dirt Upon and through it.
lie, however, advocated no macadam OF
this character.
A good macadam road should be built
upon substratum thoroughly COM
pacted by rolling with a heavy steam
roller, tho foundation being crowned
transversely. so as to afford quick drain
age TO tho side cutters. No street of
| any material can DO we'll built and eco
nomically main aimed without good
drainage, its sides being protected by
cutters OF ample section to carry the full
storm volume of water. Upon the foun-
dation thus made hard limestone or trap
rock broken to pass through two-inch
ring should be spread uniformly to a
depth of not less than four inches. after
which it should be thoroughly COM
pacted by rolling. Upon this layer of
stone broken to pass through an inch
and half ring should be laid to q depth
of two inches and treated by rolling in
the same manner as tho sub-course.
Upon the whole should be spread either
stone siftings or clear, sharp sand, and,
after being well sprinkled with water,
rolled until the whole is com pacted into
one solid mass.
Macadam pavcments of this character
are substantial, economical to maintain,
stantly growing in favor. Within the
last four years the suburbs of Philadel-
phia have been laid with many miles of
It, and at bridgeport, one Of the largest
manufacturing cities OF Connecticut,
sixty miles of macadam lighter than
what he described have been laid and
arc being constantly added to. There
are many other towns and cities in New
England which have for years been
laying improved macs dam, and each
year add to tho imp ovoment How
can this style Of pavement be applied
to our immediate NJ cessities hore?
by building six miles of it, tho extrcm-
tiles of our city III all directions can be
reached at minimum cost, and by
dillgent and energetic II easures before
the now year.
Upon the assumption I'll at most of the
streets which should be at once treated
are very close to their roper graded,
and that in order to lay them with mac.
adam to q height below the final grade,
so that in the future if deemed expo
dent brick, belgian or asphalt block
could be laid upon it. the street should
be excavated TO twelve inches below
ade. rolled and the macadam laid
upon it, lie estimates, from figures
which he practically knows are closely
approximate. that the work will cost
not exceeding IS, 600 per mile, or that
the six miles which he believes should
be laid will cost $4,000. at the time
the macadam is laid, in order to protect
it, and also in order to place the streets
and sidewalks in proper condition, gut
tiers and curbing should be placed.
1t will require only one. third Of our
appropriation to do this work. 1t can
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