The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-10-23
FOR GOOD COUNTRY ROADS.
An Interesting Discussion in the
Engineers Meeting.
State and County Engineers Recon-
mended-How Virginia Could Have
First Class Highways at Small Cost.
The Engineers Adjourn After n Sue
cessful Session.

The Virginia Association Of Engineers
closed its fall meeting yesterday after
noon after an interesting and successful
session.
Tho feature of yesterday session was
the presentation and discussion Of tho
report Of Messrs. Oscar Saabye and
Clarence Coleman on county roads. The
report, after citing the difficulties in the
way Of building good roads in Virginia,
submits plans Of cross sections for high
ways as follows:
'A-Ear b roads.
"B-Gravel roads.
"C-Macadam roads.
In suggesting these plans, we think
they could be utilized as basis for
standards, with the necessary altera-
lions and notifications naturally caused
by the special conditions in the different
localities in which they may be used.
"Urder the present State laws the
width OF county road or turnpike is
thirty feet. We suggest this width as
suitable for the purposes, and have
given it to all three classes of roads in
the attached plans. In the gravel and
the gravel or macadamize1 driveway
should BIO made sixteen feet wide, suf-
f1cient for two vehicles to pass each
other with ease and leaving pathway
on each side four feet wide. The side
bitches for all three classes OF roads we
suggest TO be made as per plan, three
feet wide at the top, one foot at bottom,
with depth of one foot.
''The thick ness of the metal in
stone roads we suggest as follows, as
shown on plan:
For gravel roads, 10 inches in the
center and iEcnes at each side Of the
driveway. with an S.inch crown.
"For macadam roads, 6 inches in the
centor, and inches at each side Of the
driveway, with an 8-inch crown.
ut is self.evident that it Is an
impossibility for your committee in this
report to give the exact cost Of construc-
tion per mile Of the three classes of
roads herein proposed for very obvious
reasons; but after careful examinations
and comparisons with the actual cost of
road construction in other States, we
conclude and suggest that the three
classes OF roads herein described could
be constructed in Virginia within the
following margins of cost per mile:
Earth roads from $500 to Sl.5OO.
"Gravel roads from 81, 900 to S3, 500.
"Macadam roads from So, 500 to 81 900,
and in many instances probably cheaper.
Now, regarding supervision OF con-
struction and maintenance of these
new highways, it ia to be advised, and
We suggest, that they should be- directly
under the control OF the counties them.
selves through their chosen represen-
tatives. and done in the manner cheap
hlc ia
For instance, the Office OF county sur
veyor could be changed TO that of
county enineer and filled by skilled
engineers who should have charge of
the construction aud III maintenance of all
public highways, bridges. ETC., within
the county This change would not
materially increase the county OK
penses, as there could always be found
in every county engineers in private
practice who would servo tho county for
nominal charge for work performed or
for certain annual comp ensa ton, and
thsy need nos be excluded from private
practice when their services are not re-
quired on public work.
"It is a well-known fact that good
maintenance of roads once built is
equally important to good construction.
IL the road is kept and we'll looked after
W
therefore, advisable, and we would sug-
gest, tha5 the maintenance OF our high
ways should be exclusively in the hands
OF men appointed and paid salary for
this purpose under the supervision of
the county engineer. Tneso men should
not be allowed to engage in other pur.
suits while holding such positions. For
tho sake Of uniformity OF construction.
and in the interest OF tho State and
counties, VIC would also suggest Una,
the office OF State engineer be created
by the legislature. This officer would
prepare or approve plans and estimates
for highways, bridges, etc, and in gen.
eral supervise and inspect their con.
struction, keep statistical archives and
perform such other duties for the state
as might be ordained by law 1t should
be filled by competent engineer for
term OF not less than four years, who
should be paid such salary as would
induce first class engineers to give
their entire attention to tho duties Of
;ha office.
"It has been argued as an inducements
to the betterment OF our highways that
convict labor, being cheap, should be
engaged in their construction. The ad-
visibility of the employment Of convicts
is very questionable. and your commit
teo does not deem it proper it this re-
port to make any suggestions regarding
this subject. inasmuch as the minutp
of road construction should be left en-.
tirely within tho jurisdiction OF the
counties as they deem best.
GAS to the third problem. how to OBJ
tain the means for the construction and
maintenance of our highways, the solu-
tion OF this question is to q great extent
legislative. We would urgently suggest
that the legislature, as early as pos
sible. be called upon to repeal the OBJ.