The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1895-04-26

distance.
Of course there are exceptional
cases where it is almost impossible
to obtain suitable stone at reason
able prices, and in such cases brick
will probably be the best material
to use. But in many parts of the
country good stone is to be found
| in abundance, in many places for
the asking, and in such sections
the construction of permanent high
ways is only a matter of time and
patience.
John Loudon MacAdam was
probably the greatest authority on
road making the world has ever
known. He was born in Scotland
in 1856, passed his youth in the
United States. On his return to
his native country he was appoint
ed manager of a district of roads in
Ayrshire and originated and sue
cessfully practiced system of road
making now known by his name,
and the plan of stone road construc-
ton which | will offer embraces
many principles laid down by him,
which principles are just as val
liable now as when first offered.
Before entering into the details
of this subject it may be we'll to
call your attention to the old say
ing: "The more haste the less
speed" which is just as applicable
in making as in any other line
of work. Good looking stone roads
which will pass superficial exam
ination are easily built, and may
wear very well for a year or two,
but when such roads have sunk
into the mud of the poor founda-
tons it will then be apparent that
it would have been much better to
have built them on more thorough
principles in the beginning.
The superstructure of stone
road is the least important part of
it, as the best and most expensive
superstpucture laid on a poor
foundation is vastly inferior to a
poor superstructure laid on good
foundation.
In preparing the foundation Of a
stone road great care should be
taken to thoroughly drain the road
way MacAdam in all his writings
insists that the stone covering is
not the road proper, and that its
purpose is not to support the weight
of the vehicles, but only to act as a
covering or roof for the roadbed
underneath. If the roadbed is of a
sandy or porous nature the work OF
draining it will not be so difficult,
but if it is of a clayey nature the
work will require considerable care.
The roadbed should be thor,
oughly graded, and have a slight
convexity of surface. In preparing
the foundation, therefore, the mid.
die of the road should be from three
to four inches higher than the sides,
depending OF the width of the road
way. This work can be done very
cheaply by the use of the road ma
chine and wheel scraper. After the
road has been graded it should be
thoroughly rolled with a heavy iron
roller. This is very essential and
should never be neglected, as it is a
very important factor in the dura-
bility Of the finished roadway.
After the foundation has been care
fully prepared, the road metal is
put on. Although 1t is a mooted
question amongst road makers,
some believe that for ordinary
country roads the metal should be
spread mot dumped) on the road
way just as it comes from the
crusher, without any screening.
This will give a mixture of sand
and fine stone amongst the material
which will aid very materially in
binding the whole together. The
largest stone placed on the road
should pass through two-inch
ring. No clay or other substance
should be mixed with the stone, as
it is positively injurious. The
stone should be spread on the road
way to the depth of six inches.
Many writer's contend that in this
climate less than ten inches in
thickness will not give good results,
but it has been practically demon