The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-11-13


Union. Virginia is upon the eve of es-
tablishing a Highway Commission sys-
tenn based upon that of Massachu-
| Sets
rs any Western State following that
eXample?"
Yes; in Arkansas the reports indi-
cate that that State is about to enter
upon system of highway improve
ment on the lines Of the Massachusetts
system"
CONVICT LABOR ON ROADS.
WAS there anything said about con-
Wet labor on roads, the subject General
Stone addressed the California Road
Convention on last Winter?"
Yes, that was debated, and l was
particularly interested in and impressed
by reports on the results of the employ
ment of convict labor in highway con-
struction in several States, and espec-
tally the report made by Mr.. Mayfeld Of
South Carolina
"Of course you made a report for Cali
fornia, and told them what we are doing
here?''
ooh, yes; made such a report, and
while it was general in terms, SO that
the convention should understand our
situation, it was specific as to the legiS-
latIOn that we have accomplished and
the work of the Bureau of Highways so
that it has for the future. VIII you per-
nit me to say, and 1 say it without ego
tism, that after that, by expression of
the convention, and individual members
Of it, it was conceded that ours was one
of the most interesting examples be-
fore the parliament, and this relates to
the scheme of the law, and its cOntem-
platiOnS, which even here the people in
California do not yet fully understand,
hHc9I1SP <
present to them the actual road condi-
lions Of this State, and will not be able
to do so until we shall have completed
all the county visitations."
CALIFORNIA ROCK-CRUSHING
PLANT.
what did the Eastern delegates have
to say about our rock-crushing plant at
FClsom?"
Upon that point the convention was
satisfied that California has taken the
most advanced step made by any State
in the establishment of rock-crushing
plant, and the employment of convict
labor in its operation This matter so
impressed the convention that express
sion took the form of a complimentary
resolution, which was adopted. No,
have not got it in full, but will have it.
1t sets out that the example of Cali
fcInia in this preparation of road ma
terial is the best example given to other
States of the solution of the problem of
the employment of convict labor with
out interference with free labor, and
also that it is the best example yet given
o. preparation OF road material at least
cost to the people and in the highest in
tel ests of communities of taxpayers"
Were there any examples shown of
road work, any actual road stretches
shown, and of different kinds of high
ways?"
OBJECT LESSONS.
yes, sir We devoted two after
moons TO the examination of examples
of road work constructed, and in pro-
cess of construction, on the exposition
grounds; road machinery in great va
riety, traction tests, etc. We We're en-
abled to see there in operation by the
way the same kind of machinery which
we are now putting in at Folsom. of
course, there We're many eminent and
practical road engineers and techni-
calists present at the examinations
and their debates and eXpOsitiOns Of
the subjects exemplified We're Of tn,
highest value. But of course [ cannot
present them in any brief way. But
can say that the information gained
both practical and theoretical, will be Of
the highest value in the work of our
bureau in California"
But cannot you tell us something,
in a brief way, about the absolute
road construction which was eXempli
fed there before the members of the
parliament"
PROOF OF GOOD ROAD BENEFITS.
yes. certainly. Parallel roads were
constructed of about a hundred yards
in length, commencing with the prlmi-
tive dirt road, then sand roads, dusty
roads. well rolled and sprinkled earth
roads, graveled roads, rough maca-
dam roads. etc, ending with
the most perfectly constructed ana
rolled macadam roads known. All
Of these roads started on an absolute
level, running from that to =, /, 8, ). 10
and 20 per cent. grades. The perfect
macadam road, of which we wished to
know-for we already know too much of
the imperfect dirt rOad-Was con-
structed of a basalt brought from
Chattanooga Tenn, but much inferior
in quality to the trap rock that we
have at Folsom. This was built on the
three-layer system, coarse rock on the
bottom well rolled, followed by a layer
Of smaller rock, also well rolled, and hen
surfaced by what is technically known
as screening This is small not larger
than a grain Of corn, but different from
what is known as screenings in this
State. in the fact that it is absolutely
Tree from all EcTIHE IIidlttI
Then in the East they do not do as
was done in Sacramento, and put
earthly matter on the top of macadam
surface"
why. of course not; the thing is alb
surd and ridiculous"
THAT PERFECT ROAD
That perfect macadam road you
spoke Of when I interrupted you, how
was it finished?"
wei. after this small matter of fine
screening was first put on, it was
sprinkled and rolled by an eighteen-t ton
roller On its completion it was almost
equal to our asphalt or bituminous rock
streets, such -; that on street"
"Will you kindly tell US something Of
the traction tests?"
Yes In regard to the traction tests
they We're made over all of these roads
I have referred to, with a load approx
mating two tons in weight. These tests
were determined by the use of a dyna
mometer. 1t is an instrument which
measures the force exerted, or the re-
sistance made The tests re-estab-
lshed the old truth which all the peo-
pie must come to accept, that the very
cheapest possible road for them is that
over which they can draw the greatest
load IN the least time with the smallest
expenditure of force. For instance in
these tests we had an example of a
tWo-mule team, small animals, hitched
TO a common wagon with two tons bur
den. pulling with ease up grades gradu-
ally increasing from a level to and in
Guiding a 20 per cent, and accomplish
ing their task on a perfect macadam
read. the dynamometer constantly in
dicating the increase in grade. But the
same team on the earth road, which
had been made muddy, by sprinkling, to
tho extent of six inches in depth, when
it left the 20 per cent. grade, going
down hill. and reaching the Is per cent
grade. was unable to move On other
roads the mules stalled at different