The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-05-30
Highways OF Europe.


Roads in Europe are not mere strips
of land set apart for public use and left
to be worn into tracks as the necessities
Of communication may occasion. They
are structures just as truly as are pub
lie buildings, scientifically. planned
and built, and sharply di.& tentiated
from the surrounding country. The
roadway has its given width, on levels
Is usually raised somewhat above the
adjacent land, is bordered on both sides
by deep trenches, or canals for proper
drainage, and where necessary is sup
ported by solid masonry. The sides are
planted with fruit, poplar, Eastwood
and other trees or protected by stone
walls at dangerous points, as the case
may be. All bitches, brooks and small
water courses are spanned by stone cul-
verts, often of elaborate construction,
while projecting spurs of rock on the
mountain slopes are pierced by tunnels.
Slanting sides are usually covered with
grass, which is kept neatly trimmed.
This prevents washing by rains and adds
permanency to the structure. Many
roads, especially in the mountain re-
gions, with their windings, buttresses,
culverts, walls and tunnels, are monu-
ments of the highest engineering skill.
The materials out of which roads are
made in Europe may be classed I'M
der three varieties-trap, or basalt,
GRANTEES, including seine of the harder
sedimeptary rocks, and limestone.
Where the first two are easily obtaiDa
bic they are exclusively used, trap be-
ing 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 affected by frost, it is particu-
iarly adapted to roads which are used
tyr heavy teaming, outwearing granite
tor this purpose. The harder rocks of
the granite series make very service
able roads. even for teaming, and excel
lent ones for driving
Limestone roads at their best are the
finest of all for driving and riding pur
poses. Not so hard as the trap and
granite roads, they possess a certain de-
gree of elasticity, in virtue of which the
carriage or bicycle rolls over them with
less jar and with a peculiar ease of mo-
ton which exerts most pleasing effect,
the nearest approach to which is that
experienced in riding on good asphalt
pavement. This elasticity is most
marked at that period after rain when
the surface has set thoroughly, but has
not become dry enough to be rubbed
into dust. Unfortunately, owing to the
softness of the material, limestone roads
deteriorate rapidly and require constant
care to keep them in good order. They
also soften easily under the action of
frost and water, so that in the spring
and during rainy seasons they are liza
| BILE to become heavy.
Material for repairs is kept constant
ly on hand at short intervals on the
sides of many highways, particularly in
Germany. The rock is carted to the de-
sired spot in pieces 10 or IS inches in
diameter, and these are broken up by
the road repairers into fragments y to
2 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 smooth sur.
face. More than this amount serves tC
make dust and mud and to impair the
efficiency of the road. Frequently the
small stones, we'll 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 rair
and can be used as comfortably il
stormy as in pleasant weather.-Ne,
York Post.