The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-24
A Plan for Good Road. in Indiana.

A Plan for Good Roads in Indiana.
To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal.
Few years ago I was in Kentucky, in
company with gentleman from near Bos-
ton, Mass. We were examining some as
phaltum lands He said that in his neigh
borhood they used to think they were doing
very well when they got chuckholes in the
road filled. They afterwards thought they
had made great advance when they had
the roads rounded up. with ditch on each
side. This did not altogether satisfy them,
so they proceeded to gravel them. After
wards they macadamized them, and then
thought they had reached the height of
perfection for country roads. Later on ii
was decided that advancing civilization re-
quired a further advance. and he was look
ing for asphaltun for their roads.
In this State We have all of these grades
except the last, and a general thing the
more advancement in roads the more i'm
provement In the surrounding territory, not
only as TO vehicles. but also in the better
condition of the buildings. When the farmer
has good roads to travel over ne does not
nave to spend 80 much time on the way,
ard his bills fer repairs to vehicles are
small, and his temper is in a better condi-
ton, so that ne is more apt to take an in
terest In making improvements. The ques-
ton in this State Is not what is absolutely
the best road. as some papers are discuss
ing it, but what is the best that can be
built under the existing circumstances. 1t
would be impossible to get the farmers in
most of the road districts of the State to
consent to tax themselves heavily enough,
or to go in debt, for a general system of
pixies, IL they had TO be built by contract;
but if a system could be introduced by
which they could do most of the work them
selves, without a heavy cash outlay, they
would be glad 10 do So know there Is much
said about their not putting in good time
on the roads now, but as they do not see
much benefit from what is done, they do
not feel much interest in it, but they would
if they knew that it you'd be lasting inn
provement. The farmers in this vicinity
have been very liberal about donating The
hauling Of gravel and cinders, and would
be more If the material more
durable There has been a great improve
ment in the roads In tne last twenty years
but farmers need better roads. At a largely
attended meeting in the adjoining road dis
trict, on Feb. Is, presented this plan:
That the county should have good steam
roller, as some of the cities already nave,
TO be used from one township to another
as they have use for it; each township, or
two three together, as needed, to have
a stone crusher, to be put up at the most
convenient place where stone could be nad
the crushed stone TO be hauled to the road
by the farmers. At this meeting it was re-
ported that to make mile of road. and to
the owners have the use OF their roller,
and that cru5her could be rented. A COM
mittee of five was appointed, two OF whom
were the township trustee and the road
supervisor, TO see now many days hauling
each one interested in the road would do
nate, besides working out mis- time and
the taxes could be subscribed. and TO make
such other necessary arrangements.
The farmers in nearly every roai district
in the State would be not only glad to work
out their time and taxes. but would donate
extra hauling, and, knowing that they were
getting a lasting Improvement. would not
shirk as to putting in full time. Many of
the districts already have graders, with
which they could easily put the road ped In
shape for the broken stone. The roller
should be used to thoroughly compact the
road bed before the stone Is put on, which
should be rolled before the top dressing OF
screenings from the crusher. or gravel
enough TO fiji the crevices, is put on, and
then thoroughly rolled until smooth and
sclii. road like this would be impervious
10 water and would wear equally. il could
be built cheaply, as there would be very
little hand work. To make road eighteen
feet wide would require one cubic yard or
stone for each yard or length As TO ma
southeastern part there is tolerably good
limestone in the silurian formation, and the
Devonian limestone. just below. the black
shade. will wear well. Some of the lime
stone in both of these formations would
soon grind to mud. especially the hydraulic
limestone. Some OF the silurian limestone
has been used on the streets of Louisville,
KY, but it is not worth putting down. The
most durable pike material in the State is
the sllicious limestone, between the Devon
ian black shale and the clay shale above
the subcarboniferous. The layer is not very
thick. varying from two to three feet but
is almost indestruetible. At the base OF the
St. Louis group is the Keokuk limestone,
which is very good. A great deal OF the
St Louis group, especially the voltic, is
too soft for pike material. but just above
the volitc is hard blue or gray limestone
that is very durable. The kaskaskia, Just
below the conglomerate. is another good
pike material. one OF the best road ma
terials Is the abundant granite powders
which are plentiful throughout the State
except in triangle. the point of which is
south of Indianapolis, the base from along
the southern part OF the State, from near
Jeffersonviiie westward. These powders
could be run through a crusher and would
be one Of the best road materials possible
Z. +. VERY.
New ALBANY. Ind. Feb. -