Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-12-06
GERMAN HIGHWAYS
How Fine Country Roads are Built in
Germany at Moderate Cost

Germany at Moderate Cost
Among the excellent roads of Euro |
pean countries those Of Germany GER
tainly deserve to be noticed. These
roads are in the hands Of the states,
which built most of them before the
formation of the empire i'm 1870. Each
has its separate system Of adminstra-
ton. In this the German roads are diff
ferent from those of France, Italy and
a number Of other countries Of Europe,
and to this is unquestionably due the
fact that they suffer somewhat by COM
parison. In France and Italy, as well
as in several other countries, the roads
are under the control Of the national
| governments.
| Since the formation Of the empire
very few general roads have been built.
| The principal work of later years has
been to improve suburban highways
and to secure easy communication at
all seasons between important railway
stations and the surrounding districts.
For this purpose narrower and cheaper
roads than were formerly built are con-
structed, so it may he said, as United
States Consul General Frank II. Mason
remarks, the standard Of road building
has deteriorated during theilast twen-
ty years in all parts Of Germany, except
Baden, where the highest grade of eX-
cellence is still maintained. In respect
TO the construction, continues Mr.. Ma
son, the German process il identical
with that of France and Switzerland.
Every important road is a graded, ma
cadamized .turnpiked, with culverts of
massive stone, bitches on either side
(which are paved whenever there is
danger of washing) and generally lined
with trees. All slopes and counter
scraps are secured.by grass sown from
seed when the soil is sufficiently fertile
to receive il, otherwise by turfing.
, When the slope il very steep and un-
stable, il is secured by wall of solid
: masonry. The profile and alignment
of each road is a skillful compromise
: between directness of route and an easy
, gradient. Whenever practicable the
road Is a straight line between the
points connected, and when the ext
gencies of surface forbid this, the best
skill of the engineer is employed to cir
cumvent tine obstacle by the most di-
rect route compatible with practic-
able grade.
The German roads are classed accord
ing to width, which varies from seven
to eight and one-half metres from 22.9
| to 26.47 feet. After the Linz and gradi-
ents have been established by survey,
the culverts and bridges constructed,
and the whole surface of the roadway
graded to fiat uniform surface of the
required width and all filled portions
rolled and thoroughly settled, the
wagon track (which is from four to five
metres wide), IS first spread with two
inch layer of broken stone which is
crushed with heavy rollers into fine
, and even foundation. In places where
the ground is treacherOus, where
springs or quicksand appear, larger
} stones are rammed down until firm
: foundation Is secured. Upon this layer
} after layer of broken stone are added,
rammed and rolled to depth Of eight
2 and one-half inches. Then the wear OF
heavy broad wheeled wagons does the
rest
An idea of the cost in Germany OF
the best road Of the broadest type may
be obtained from an expanse of road
| between Langenfeld and Burgwald
The road is 2,324 yards long and twenty
six and one-half feet in width. The
macadamized wagon track is thirteen
and one-half feet wide and eight and
! one-half inches thick. The items o
: expense include the following: Grad
,, ing roadway, planting and turfinl
slopes, bridges and culverts, macada
mizlng, markstones, numbers, tools
damage to adjacspt property during
work, tree planting, superintendent
( of construction and incldentals. Fol
A all these items the total expense Of thu
road was $5,324.24 or about 1896 pc
mile. To be sure the wages paid wer'
:; comparatively low, but 1t can be easily
! seen from these figures that good road
! in America need not be 80 expensive a.
4 is commonly supposed.