The herald., 1893-05-12
GOOD ROADS IN NEW JERSEY.

Splendid Results Obtained by the I'M
prorsm6nt of Highways.
For several years previous to the year
of 1888 the people of Union county, N.
r., had been agitating the question Of
better roads, and finally meeting waa
called, and as q result q committee was
appointed consisting of one from each
township and city to consider the mat
ter, land they framed a bill and presented
1t to the legislature, which was passed
after hard fight by just one majority
In the winter of 1888
This bill provided that any county in
the state wishing to build stone roads
might do SO by two-thirds vote Of the
board of supervisors. Among the pro
visions Of the bill are the following:
Amount of bonds that can be issued,
1926, 900 in any one county. The board
has authority 10 employ an expert en-
gincor to prepare plans and specifications
and supervise the work. One-third of
the expense must be borne by the town
ship through which the road passes aud
two-thirds by the county at large.
Union county was the first to take adj
vantage of the law. They first deter
mined on the roads to macadamize, and
then the engineer prepared the plans and
specifications, and bids were solicited for
building the same, and the contracts let
TO the lowest responsible bidders, each
contract embracing that portion of the
road running through one township. In
all there were 40 miles built, being 16 feet
In width and 10 inches deep, and being
what Is called the telford-macadam sys-
tenn, at an average cost of about $8 600
per mile.
In constructing the road we first grad
ed it carefully and formed cutters on
each side with fall sufficient to carry
the water to the nearest water course
with sufficient crown given TO the road
so that the water would easily run to the
cutters. After the road is thus graded
to the width of the macadam 10 feet in
the center is taken out to a depth of ~
inches. The subfound9tion is then care
fully rolled, so that the bed will be com
pact and to the true grade. After this is
done the teiford stone foundation to the
depth of eight inches is carefully laid by
hand. This stone is wedge shaped, the in
terstices being filed with the chips of Che
stone, which are pounded in so that the
stones are held firmly in position.
The next thing to be done is 70 thor
oughly roll the telford; then layer Of
broken stone to the depth Of ~ inches is
laid, which is rolled and watered, and
upon that screenings Of stone are put
and thoroughly watercd and rolled; then
course Of smaller stone to the depth Of
two inches is put on, and then what is
called the finishing course is put on and
watered and rolled. Sometimes this
process of watering and rolling is con-
tinued in small section for a. week or
ten days until the road is perfectly
smooth.
After about is miles of the road had
been built the taxpayers, especially the
farmers, were all clamorous for road
in their immediate neighborhood, and
the legislature without one dissenting
vote passed a bill allowing the counties
to issue bonds, and today there is not
taxpayer In Union county that would 60
back to the old system of roads. After
two years of the severest use not rut
can be found, although the heaviest
kinds of loads have constantly passed
over them.
The valuation of property in the coun-
ty has greatly increased, and numerous
manufacturing industries have located
in the county. Bicycle people are espe-
cially pleased with the condition of tho
roads. The whole management of the
road system is under the control of the
board of supervisors, just the same as
other county matters There is com
mittee Of the board that has immediate
control just Us you have q committee Of
your board that looks after justice claims
or county buildings, etc-x-F. A. Dun.
ham In Saginaw Courier Herald.