The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1893-04-21
GOOD aoAps IN NEW JERSEY.
Splendid RESULTS Obtained by the In-
mUsement OF uighways.

splendid Results Obtained ny the lm-
pavement Of Highways
For several years previous 10 the year
Of 1888 the people Of Union county. N.
j., had been agitating tho question OF
better roads, and finally meeting was
called. and as result committee was
appointed consisting Of one from each
township and city to consider the mat
ter, and they framed . bill and presented
Il to the legislature. which was passed
after . hard fight by just one majority
In the winter Of 1883.
This bill provided that any county in
tho 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,
e325, 900 In any one county. The board
has authority to employ an expert en-
gineer 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 and
twothirds 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
al there were 40 miles built. being 10 feet
IN width and IL inches deep. and being
what Is called the telford-macadam sys.
tenn, at an average cost Of about $s, 900
per mile.
In constructing the road we first grad
ed It carefully and formed cutters on
each side with Q fall sufficient to carry
the water to the nearest water course
with sufficient crown given to the road
20 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 ont to q depth Of -
inches. The subfoundation is then care.
fully rolled, 30 that the bed will be COM
pact and TO the true grade. After this IL
done the telford stone foundation to the
depth Of eight inches Il carefully laid by
hand This Stone Il wedge shaped, the In.
terstices being Allied with the chips Of the
stone, which are pounded In 20 that the
stones ars held firmly IN position.
The next thing TO b done h 10 thor.
oughly ron the telford: then . layer Of
broken stone 70 the depth Of ~ inches q
laid, which Il rolled and watered, and
upon that screenings Of Stone are put
and thoroughly watered and rolled, then
. course Of smaller stone to the depth Of
two inches b put On, and then what 70
called the hnishing course is put on and
watsred and rolled. Sometimes thi1
process Of watering and rolling b con-
inued In . small section for . week Of
ten days until the road y perfectly
smooth.
After shout 10 miles Of the road had
beeu built the taxpayer, especially the
farmefB, ware Ill clamorous for . road
IN thsly immediate neighborhood, and
the Legislature without one dissenting
vote passed bin allowing the counties
70 Issue bonds, and today there 70 not .
taxpayer In Union county that would 70
back to the old system OF roads. After
two years Of the severest use not . Tut |
can b found. although The hesviest
kinds Of loads have constantly passed
ovsf them.
The valuation Of property In the coun-
~ has greatly increased, and numerous |
manufacturing industries have located |
IN the county. Bicycle people arc espe-
eially pleased With the condition Of the
roadA The whole management Of the
soad system II under the control Of The
board Of supervisors, Just tho Same q
other county matters. There q . CON-
mittee Of the board that has immediate
control Just - you have committee Of
your board that looks after justice claims
or county buildings. etc.. A. DUN.
ham In Saginaw Courier-Herald