The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-01-14


nrenaration of the native soil and not
in The stone COY ering, which Is ue'
scribed as merely root to sAeu ram
water. -, ,tror
preceding engineers had formed ioaos
bv first LAYING foundation OF n'E
rocks and covering with Il smaller
variety, often leaving when com
nIrted a mass three feet or more III
thickness. This was a very costly
system and it was found that
the smaller material worked Gown,
while the larger stones moNeu ~
the surface and made rouSh
road. The first essential in road max
| inc is thorough drainage. EeIoie
/ shOvellul OF rock is put on ROAD IL
| should be seen that its drainage Is
nprtect. An outlet should be pro-
vided, not only Tor adjacent spring. or
siep water, but of sufficient capacity
to carry away rainfall, so that 1t Will
not penetrate the road bed. This pro
! viGed and maintained, we have III our
| black soil the best road material III
the world. Every traveller over our
| black land roads, when they are III
for travel, must be struck with their
firm, yet elastic character
McAdam preferred a soft roadDed
in which to place his prepared male
| rial rather than hard one, or sOlid
rock. Anything tirmer than a bog
! was good enough for permanent
road, il the drainage was perfect, and
the bed properly graded and rendered
firm. He and all other reliable au-
thOrities agreed that the tlattera road
could be constructed consistent win
its shedding rainfall, the better for
| travel and more durable would 1T be
Next to u perfectly dry roadbed, Il
smooth and thoroughly firm surface,
| should be attained before covering
with crushed rock. If theroad proper
is improperly graded and filed
with ruts at the time Of APP.
plying the stone, the road
canno5 be rendered perfect by grad
ing he surface of the finished road, as
under the most favorable circum-
stances ram will, to an extent, pene-
| trate the macadam before it becomes
an impervious mass and the traffic OF
vehicles will press the stones into the
yielding soil below where the water is
held in the old ruts. If the surface
of the soil has been properly graded
aud consolidated just before macada-
MIXING, the water which may pene-
trate the roof or stone topping, Will be
shed by the covered road bed beneath.
| The thicker the mas Of road metal,
| the longer it will be in becoming q
firm mass and the greater the risk Of
water penetrating to and injuring the
foundation. This is where | fear an
uniavorable result on the rood under
consideration. I'm atraiu that sut1i-
cient attention has not been given to
the grading OF the road imm, diately
before the application OF the macadam
and the excessive thickness OF it will
keep it in a loose, shifting and porous
condition for long time. An or 10
ton roller run over a inch covering
of rock would press the pieces together
and form comparatively solid mass,
such as no weight would ever ac-
compish on Finch thickness. 10
construct a road of crushed rock the
material should be applied in at least
two layers, and the first once thor
oughly cOmpacted before applying the
next.
Our commissioners doubtless intend
that their work shall be first class and
permanent, and think this heavy APP
plication OF material is an evidence of
thorOughness. 1t is not so, but it is
an evidence that they do the work to
the best of their knowledge, and with
desire to be thorough, regardless of
expense. But as have said, a better
quality of road can be made at some.
thing near half the cost and the ext
gency of. the case calls for the consid-
GRAFTON of this matter. If two or more
miles of / Dad can be made where ouIy
one is now built it would materially
hasten the road millen UNI.
j have not seen the rock crusher at
work, but it turns out first rate ar
ticle for road construction. Our lime
stone is as good material as
could be desired in this eli
mate, where we are not sub
ject to severe frOsts, and
the machine reduces it TO proper size
and good shape for uniting on the road
under ressure. The more angular
the particles the more readily do they
pack into firm mass.
There is an adhesive quality in the
stone that helps to cement them to-
gether. Limestone will make much
better road than gravel, unless great
deal of preparation is given to the
latter.
Every county road within mile or
two of n good limestone should have
first class roads at little cost.
trust and believe that my remarks
will be received in the spirit in which
they are given. I am not captious.
but feel it a duty to point out what
know or be ieve to he error in matters
affecting the agricultural interest.
| fully appreciate the good inten-
tions of our commissioners court, and
hope to see them steadily pursue a
progressive course, and receive, as
they deserve, public appreciation.