The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-10-20

ment. But if doubt fingered In the
mind of any one using the road as TO
the advantage of "macadam" over
Dirt roads. that doubt must have
been dispeiled on circus day.
Our macadamised road lies between
the fifth and sixth mile posts. On the
night previous to circus day we ha9
big rain between the sixth anu
eighth mile posts, which are c0n-
nected by piece OF as black, stlcKy
dirt road as can be found III tne
country.
Those coming from beyond the rain
limit, ran suddenly off we'll beaten,
smooth road, into a perfect quagmlre,
which demanded the utmost effort OF
a stout team to drag an empty wagon
through. and many a traveller, VINO
did not know of the rain till the mud.
dy road was reached, was so delayed
as to be only in time to miss the
parade.
Having made an early start with
good team and empty wagon L man.
aged TO see the show, but my team
had hard pull, till they touched
"Macadam,n and then came relief.
With the exception of few spots
on the road, where ruts have formed
and have not received attention, The
road is as smooth, solid and unaffect-
ed by rain-except by way of improve
ment-as any one could desire. Our
commissioners have certainly demon
strated the possibility of building
good roads, when suitable material is
within reach, and deserve the thanks
of all interested in the development
of the country.
WIDE TIRES.
Where macadamised roads are i'm
practicable, dirt roads can be kept in
fairly good condition, except during
and Immediately after heavy rains, by
the use of wide tired wheels. Indeed
the permanency and efficiency of mac
adamised reads is largely determined
by the width of tires on heavily laden
vehicles. The heavier the weight and
the narrower the tire the more quick
ly is the surface cut up and scored
with ruts. This is we'll understood in
civilized countries, where good roads
have been made at great cost and are
indispensable to the comfort and COM
merce of the people. Wide tires not
only preserve the roads, but they les
sen the draft; though many fear they
would produce the opposite effect,
AT recent road improvement con-
vention held at Chillicothe, Missouri,
report was read showing test
made as to the relative draft of narrow
and tired wheels. The following eX-
tract will be of interest:
"a level stretch Of ground was Sc
lected and made n elbow with disc
harrow. Then loading the wagons
equally with sacked grain to about
1900 pounds, and attaching dyna-
moter, the test was made with the
following results:
Width of tire. Soft earth. Grass sod.
11S inch $685. units 347l2 units
4 inch 46l units 242 units
This shows nearly 200 units Of
power, or about one-third in favor of
the wide tires. 1t is evident, there
fore, that for heavy teaming the wide
tires are much more favorable to the
the country; but by far the most inn
portant consequence from using wide
tires would be the saving from de-
of the road surface; for the
increase in draft of the narrow tires is |
due simply to cutting into the earth,
thus causing ruts, along which the
water runs the length of the hillside,
large gullies, and on level
places collecting the water in mud
holes Those who witnessed the test,
exception, so far as heard |
from, expressed themselves as favora-
BILE to the use of wagons with wide
tires for heavy teaming."
I have late noticed several 3-inch |
ir ed wagons on the streets of Austin;
II d it is to be hoped that their superb
Y will be SO demonstrated as to in
ease their popularity and help to |
We us better streets and roads.
EXPLOITATION OF CATTLE.
Secretary Rusk has inst received
through the department of state a
copy of letter from Minister Lincoln
information that the gov.
eminent OF Great Britain has removed
the prohibition of the admission of
live stock from the United States into
that country. The order requiring the
slaughter of these animals on the
decks where landed within ten days
after arrival has been revoked, and
they may be shipped to any
part of kingdom if they are landed in
the proper ports and pass inspection.
For this purpose they may be landed
at A berdeen, Bristol, Dundee, Glasgow,
Grafton, Hartlepool, Harwich, Hull
Leith, Liverpool, Thames Haven),
Newcastle.on-Tyne, Plymouth, South
ampton and Weymouth. The condi-
tions are that no other kinds of ami
mails shall be carried by the vessel on
the same trip; that the owner or
agent of the vessel shall give bond
that the animals have not come in
contact with animals from suspected
countries. and that the vessel has not
entered the ports of such countries.
The animals are to be detained for
twenty-four hours and are not to be
removed until examined by the in
spector Secretary Rusk is much
gratified by the success Of the nego-
tiations, which have been in progress
tor more than two years, looking to
the removal of prohibitory restric-
tions that have been enforced against
our stock trade for the past thirteen
years.