The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-25
EUROPE'S GOOD ROADS
Foreign Highways May Serve as an
Object Lesson for This Country.
They Are Built by the Government, but
Methods of Construction May Be Fol-
lowed Here to Some Extent.
Correspondence New York Post.

Correspondence New York Post.
However obstinate any citizen of the
United States travelling in Europe may be
in contending that the institutions of his
own country are the best in the world. he
has to confess that that country of his has
much TO learn in the way of road-making.
Latin literature bears testimony to the value
placed by the Romans on good roads, and.
among other heirlooms handed down by the
Roman empire to modern Europe. the
Roman roads constitute one which the ex-
perience of 1900 years has shown the wisuom
of preserving and improving. The desra-
! bility, indeed the necessity, of maintaining
| the best possible means of communication,
not only between important centers, but be-
| tween such centers and all parts of the land,
| is recognized by European governments, and
| the Strassenbau, care of the highways, is
an important department. which receives
| the careful attention of government officials
Roads in Europe are mere strips of land
| set apart for public use and left to be worn
into tracks as the necessities of communica-
ton may occasion. They are structures just
as truly as are public buildings, scientificaI-
ly planned and built and sharply differ
entiated from the surrounding country. The
roadway has its given width on levels is
land, is bordered on both sides by deep
trenches canals for proper drainage and
where necessary is supported by solid ma
Sonry. The sides are planted with ffult,
poplar, Eastwood and other trees, or pro-
tected by stone walls at dangerous points,
as the case may be. All bitches, brooks,
and small watercourses are spanned by
stone culverts, often of elaborate construc-
ton, while projecting spurs OF rock on the
mountain-slopes are pierced by , tunnels
vents washing by rains and adds perman-
ency to the structure. Many roads, especial
ly in the mountain regions, with their wind
are monuments OF the highest engineering
skill. Among such may be mentioned the
Via Flaminia, the Simplon, St Gothard,
Stelvio, Bremen and Ampezzo strassen.
An American, accustomed to the too often
neglected clay and sand roads of his own
land, cannot failed to be impressed with the
care displayed in the construction and main
tenance of European highways of minor as
we'll of leading Importance. good road
is a condition essential TO satisfaction in
bicycling. So far as this condition Is con-
cerned Europe approaches as nearly as
may be to the bicycliStS paradise. TO make
a bicycle tour almost anywhere in middle
or western Europe is a privilege the enjoy
ment of which can be appreciated only py
one who has had the experience Seldom
can an unreliable highway be found, except
possibly where repairs are being made or
accident has occurred. On many routes Tor
considerable distances the surface is so
hard and smooth that on the level stretches
| with a good machine, one may easily rue
w
metres per hour. Such is the road from
Dresden to Leipsic via. Nielsen, III kilome-
| tres, nearly all the way level. where one
track. This is only example of many
| similar stretches 10 be found IN SaX0ny,
| erland Italy, Austria, France, England, and
| even Spain. Not all highways are by any
means in such perfect condition. Like other
| come uneven, but the wear is rarely allowed
to proceed so far that riding upon them is
| attended with discomfort or danger.
| ROAD MATERIALS.
| The materials out of which roads are
made in Europe may be classed under three
varieties-trap or basalt, GRANTEES; includ-
| ing some of the harder sedimentary rocks,
| and llrnestones Where the first two are
/ easily obtainable, they are exclusively used,
| trap being preferred to the GRANTEES. In
| many regions limestone, being the only ma
| terial at hand, has to be employed. Trap,
| having the densest and hardest structure,
makes the most durable road. Being more
| resistant to crushing force and least aifect-
| ed by frost, it is particularly adapted to
| roads which are used for heavy teaming,
| outwearing granite for this purpose. The
harder rocks of the granite series make
| and excellent ones for driving. One OF the
smoothest and most agreeable roads | have
| ever ridden over was made of a hard-paked,
| flesh-colored argiaceOus rock, the texture
| of which resembled that Of a fine-grained
| brick.
| finest of all for driving and riding purposes
| Not so hard as the trap and granite roads
| they possess a certain degree OF elaStlclty
| in virtue of which the carriage or bicycle
| rolls over them with less jar and with a
| peculiar ease of motion which eXerts most
| pleasing effect, the nearest approach 10
| which is that experienced in riding on a
| good asphalt pavement This elasticity is
| most marked at that period after rain
| when the surface has set thoroughly, but
4 hac enough
| into dust. Unfortunately owing TO the SOFT
/ ness of the material, limestone roads de-
terorate rapidly ana deq nr baH also
| soften easily under the action of frost and
water. so that in the spring and during
| rainy seasons they are liable to become
| heavy.
one of the finest. IL not the finest, exam
pies of a first-class limestone INES high way, TO
| the Ampezzo valley, from Toblach to Pera-
rolo; distance, OF Sixty-niae Kiiomerres
| smooth never heavy, leading through some
| of the widest and most remarkable of the
| Dolomite scenery, winding along the side
| of the Durrensee, under the precipitous
| rocky walls of Cristallo Croda Rosa, So
| rapis and Antelao, it introduces the traveller
to a world of beauty, and grandeur, the
/ equal to which IS difficult to find.
| Material for repairs is kept constantly on
| hand at short intervals on the sides of many
| highways. particularly In Germany. The
| rock Is carried to the desired spot I'm pieces
| twelve to eighteen inches in diameter and
| these are broken up by the road repairers
| into fragments one and half to two inches
| in diameter, and piled in little heaps ready
| for use.
| The best roads have only gravel enough
| mingled with and covering the upper layer
| of small stones to bind these firmly together
| and make a smooth surface. More than this
| to impair the efficiency of the road. Ere
| quently the small stones, well cemented
| together appear as a part of the surface
| like those in certain kinds of concrete pave
| ments Roads of the best construction do
| not soften appreciably under rain and can
| be used as comfortably in stormy in
| pleasant weather.
In touring with the bicycle through Ger
| many. Switzerland, Austria, Sicily and Italy
| / have as a rule found the roads in the billy
| and mountainous better than in the level
| districts Whether this is owing TO more
| thorough drainage on account of the grade,
| to firmer subso or to the necessity Of
| more perfect construction / DO not know.
| Probably the observed fact is due to all of
| these factors combined.
| ITALIAN HIGHWAYS.
| Much has been said by travellers of the
| excellence of Italian highways and with
| truth but in one respect they are inferior
| to the German. The Italians usually apply
the matchmaking process only to the mid
| die section of the roadway, the side sec
| tons being left unbuilt and mostly uncared
| for. The Germans. and to a great extent
| the Austrians also. make a finished road
| over the whole available width. reason
for this would appear in the habits of the