Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-04-28
APlEA FOR IMPROVED ROADS.
How Highways Can BE Made Better
Some lnteres ting Suxgsstlons.

Now Highways Can BE Made Better
Some Interes ting SuEx.stlons.
At first 1t would hardly seem necessary
to say much on she necessity of good roads.
es the public now very generally realizes
this; but very few even now see the need Of
having good roads to and from country
towns which are not only good enough to
drive ever with . heavy bosm at any season
of the year, but beside this are In such
coed condition that there shall be no nsces.
sity tor shifting from one side Of the road
to tho other to avoid those miniature lakes
Of mud around which there are 70 often we'll
dehnsd tracks. Indeed this track often cuts
we'll into the grass at one side of the road.
Quite often we see a farmer who has enough
love for good lawn to put q number Of
t.mbers or heavy boughs across the grass
bordering the road This 10 indeed a good
plan, but why should it be necessary ?
simply because the roads are 80 badly con-
sructed that In rainy seasons often any
place at the side Of the track is preferable
to the road bed itself. In clay roads it is a
torture to drive horse in spring or fail, as
the horse not only has TO pull the carriage
through the mud, but also to draw bis own feet
out Of the mud at every step. This, to our
shame be it said, is true even Of light bug
gies; how much more, then, is it true OF
heavier wagons, those used for farm pro-
duce and other heavy trucking wagons.
Why, to tako a fair load Of any sort to the
railroad station in the carly spring tn
single horse would in some parts OF Addi-
son county, in this State, for instance, be
almost an act Of cruelty. Here let mo cite
from Henry Irwin, c. E., on this point;
"A horse can draw on a common macadam-
mad
on good solid Telford macadsm rond more
than three times as much, as he could on a
gravel road
A Telford macadam road is one form
ed OF layers of broken stone, the smaller
sized being near the top, aud sub-stra alum
OF blocks OF stone four or Ave inches across
and six or seven in depth; in soft soils a
lower stratum yet is formed Of a quantity
Of rubbis. The stratum Of largo stones is
made very carefully, in fact very much as
the driVeways OF this city srs constructed
Notice that Mr., IRWIN compares a gravel
road with nacadamIzsi road, not a mud
dy road full OF ruts with a macadamlzed
road, or even indeed with fairly good and
well drained road of gravel. Gen. Gilmore
In an article In Johnson's Cyelopedia, tells
US, that if 1t took 30 horses to conduct the
traffic OF a dry and smooth broken stone
road, it would require liz il the road had
light ruts In it and was muddy, while if it
had deep ruts and was very muddy, IT
would require 1872.
Perhaps suggestion or two might not be
out of place here, first one for the city:
Most OF va will "go round block, - if only
we can avoid the layer of broken stone that
is thrown down ON the SUI face of dirt
road, and left there till the way finally be-
comes passable, though in the mean time a
source Of agony to both man and beast.
Now in France and Great Britain, and in
some cities in the United States, they have
steam rolling machines of about six or seven
tons burden, and the way they
make their roads lat least in the
United States is something like this
from the ditohes on each side OF the
road there is a gradual slant 10 the centre,
exactly in the csntrs and taking up about
30 feet is the double horse car track; this
20 feet Is paved with small square blocks of
stone. Between this and the ditch about
8 or 10 inches OF earth are taken out; then
there is thrown in a large quantity OF stones
broken rather large; this is forced into posi-
ton by the roller, and another lot of stone,
broken a trihe smaller, is thrown on and
rolled, this Is repeated until the space is
filled up. The road thus made IL in perfect
condition the instant the workmsn are
taken off.
This, however, seems to relate entirely to
city roads, though indeed it ought not to do
SO. In the case OF country roads it seems
as II the only practicable way were to make
a road that has good drainage as a chief re-
quirement and thsn to complement this
by carting sand and small gravel on to clay
soil, and clay on to those roads which lie
over sandy soils. Now, II ever this stsa m
road roller wore run, road would DO m AIDE
that would last for many years and increase
the ease of communication 100 per cont. A
road-rollsr might be owned by the county
and used continuously on the different coun-
ty roads. Tho first cost Is indeed great, but
1t would NO doubt pay In increased facility
OF ransportation, and 30 also in the creator
value of the farms which border on the i'm
proved road.
Once We have a good road, what measures
are most likely to keep II in good condition.
Good drainage being once secured, no great
care need DO taken except TO clear away
those drifts which force the road to one
side, and further, to prevent tue use of
heavily loaded wagons with small tires.
Even the best roads will be damaged by the
use Of large loads on narrow tires,
Ihavs bsen troubled with chronic oAtarrh
for yeara, Ely's Cream Bal IN Is the ohlt fsme-
fords me relief.-E. ". Willard, Druggists,
Toilette, H.
Deau's Khsumstio Fills ABSOLUTELY euro
rhsuuatisrh.and neuralgia. Entirely vegetable.