Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-07-07
GOOD ROADS.
Their Requisites, How Obtained and
How Northumberland Laws.

One Of series Of prize essays on
'Roadmak;ng and Maintenance, print
ed in volume issued under the aus.
p.ces of the University of Pennsylvania,
makes the following comparative est.
mates for macadam and telford roads
respectively:
.'Macadam-One mile, 80 feet wide
and IA inches deep in center, from 81 ,00O
to $4,000, according to material and dis
lance. With a good old foundation it
would cost $500 to $4,000.
"Telford-One mile, 20 inches deep,
in layers, with good rolling, can be
made for S., 900 TO $1,000, according TO
material and distance. On old founda-
ton it will cost Sc, 600 to $500"
This writer pronounces the macadam
road 1.-THE best and therefore the cheap
est" Others maintain the superior merit,
as well as cheapness, of the telford sys-
TEN.
A perfect road, either telford or mac
adam, or even of Illinois gravel, can
only be secured by keeping the roadbed
perfectly dry through all seasons, either
by underdrainage or by making the
covering impervious to water and by
prompt and thorough repairs. Henc.
side drainage, culverts, slope and curva-
ture are of prime importance.
j. F. Pope, civil engineer, Of Austin,
maintains that road with "metaled'
surface, either of broken stone or gravel,
Is feet wide and AZ inches at the side
TO GlS inches deep in the middle. can be
constructed for 81 900 to s.. 600 per mile,
can be kept IN repair for 800 TO $500
mile per annum and would need resur-
facing once in four or five years.
Another writer claims that good
road with a surface of gravel laid on ten
inches of broken stone. with side drains,
can be built for So 800 to 50, goo per mile.
With one side drain and eight inches Of
broken stone, he estimates the cost at
81 900 to s. 800 per mile.
Dirt roads must for long time be the
main dependence Of Illinois and other
states. and the best method Of securing
thorough drainage and solid track will
continue TO be discussed in road conven-
tions and the press. The attention the
attracting is promising omen
for the future. One Of the reforms
needed, ana that will eventually be |
reached, is the regulation Of the width
Of tires Of vehicles according to weight |
of the load, thus preventing the cutting
up of roads as now.
Next to construction a question Of |
prime Importance is that of care and |
Unsystematic methods. |
work performed at improper seasons and
absolute neglect are the bane of any road
system. Some of the most important
rules may be briefly summarized as fol-
lows:
First-Make all needed repairs prompt
ly and at proper seasons.
Second-Wet weather is the most ia
vorable for repairing or resurfacing a
roadway.
Third-Keep drains clear.
Fourth-Remove mud and dirt and
10 not allow puddles or ruts on hard
road
Fifth-In making repairs see that the
is Of proper size and evenly
a most valuable treatise on the sub
ect of Road Legislation for the Amer
can State, by Professor J. w. jerks,
If Knox college, at Galesburg, Ms, read
before the American Economic associa-
ion in May, 1882 is printed in the pub
ieations Of the association volume q for
hat year. In that paper the author
POINTS out very forcibly the wasteful-
less of the present system of unim-
lroved roads of this state. Professor
Ienks estimates the cost of the present
detective system to the people of nli-
lois at nearly fifteen and a half mil.
ions annually, and the depreciation in
he value of the farms Of the state at
l6O,OOO,0O0. In practice it has been
ound in New Jersey and other states
where an improved system of highways
las been adopted that the appreciation
n the value of real estate has been from
) to 90, and in some cases even 100 per
ent. As prerequisite for the sys- [
ematic improvement of the American
Dad system Professor jerks proposes:
First-The abolition of toll roads with
ue regard to the rights of owners.
Second-The classification of all roads
With reference to relative Importance.
He would divide them into three classes:
. The important thoroughfares-to be
ontrolled by the county authorities. ..
roads TO the above and prin-
ipal feeders-to be supported by the
owns, but under control of the county
authorities 3. Local roads-controlled
nd managed by town authorities.)
Third-County boards to classify roads
nd determine the amount to be ex-
ended on the first class; also the amount
D be raised by the townships.
Fourth-The employment of a prac-
cal engineer to superintend the CLASH
cation of roads, provide plans for
ridges, prepare Typographical maps,
etc.
Fifth-The county board to divide the
ounty in districts Of proper size, popu-