The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1892-07-05


The cost of good gravel roads is
less than is generally supposed. 1t
is frequently stated in print yet
that the cost of gravel roads, when
the gravel must be hauled five
miles, is from $4,000 to $4,000 per
mile. ] have seen the cost put as
high as $4,000 per mile when the
gravel must be hauled an average
distance of five miles. This last
figure is about three times too
much, when the work is properly
managed. A good gravel road can
be built for from 81 200 to 81, 800
per mile, hauling the gravel Ave
miles. This includes crowning up
the earth foundation and cutting
proper bitches at the sides. In our
level prairie country, and where
the subsoil is not favorable to drain
| ago, tllis is Of much importance.
The earth roadbed should be
crowned up eighteen inches in the
centre, nicely rounded off, and
rolled down smooth and solid.
Twelve feet is wide enough for the
earth roadbed, and it should not be
wider than fourteen feet. 1t is a
common error to make the roadbed
wider than this, Ia needless expense
for construction and waste of
ground.
With us the crowning up of the
roadbed and the cutting of a ditch
at each side is done with large
road grader, operated by dozen
horses or steam power. This road
grader is bought by county, and
with it all the roads in the county
arc graded up whether they are TO
be graveled or not; or the grader
is bought by a township and hired
cut to others. In quite stony
ground it would not be possible to
use this grader, but in such ground
bitches and high crowning of the
roadbed would not be necessary.
We do not longer use substra-
tum of broken rock. We have
found this not necessary when the
earth roadbed is thoroughly drained
and that it is cheaper to drain the
earth roadbed than to use the layer
ofrock. have found that the adj
vantage of the broken rock layer
has been over estimated. 1t is not
SO important or so advantageous as
tho books wonld lead one to think.
Its only advantage worth speaking
of, is to secure better drainage.
With us it is more economical to
get proper drainage by other means.
This might not be the case where
rock is very abundant.
We make the gravel twelve to
fiftceninches deep. When the earth
foundation has been well prepared,
gravel nine or ten inches deep
makes a good and durable road.
But it is more economical to make
the gravel at least twelve inches
deep. Not more than three inches
of gravel should be put on at a time,
this being rolled down thoroughly
before another layer is put on.
When three strata of gravel have
been placed, making the gravel nine
inches deep, it is well to allow the
road to be travelled three months
before the next layer of gravel is
put on
When a good gravel road is once
made it requires very little work to
keep it in repair, provided that
work is bestowed promptly when
needed 1t is we'll to leave dirt
track at the side of the gravel track
where the width of the road will
permit, as it will in almost every
case in the west, and in many cases
in the east; when dry and hard the
earth track viii be preferred by
most drivers, especially those of the
lighter vehicles; and it is just at
this time that gravel roads are most
worn. We find that the chief wear
of the gravel is in dry weather and
when the dust is blown off the road.
The money expended for gravel
roads is kept at home. Material or
labor is not broughtfrom distance.
a friend, farmer, was recently
telling me that when they began to
gravel roads in his neighborhood,
this fact struck the people as a
pleasant surprise. The money paid
for hauling gravel was paid to team
sters in the nearby villages, who
paid it, either direct or through
merchants, to the farmers for food
for man or beast. The employment