The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-03
4 LESSON IN coon ROADS.
Three Samples or Construction shown at
Geneva. n. ".

bicycle brought n demand for good roads. The
hrst agttators were the wheclmen, but the do.
mand became general when 1t was demon.
strated among other things that q ton of ma
terial, whose transportation over an ordinary,
unimproved country road, cost 25 cents q mile,
could BIO moved on q hard, smooth, improved
road for s cents. Tho Road Inquiry Division
OF tho Department of Agriculture was organ
lied under the direction OF Gen. Roy Stone and
has continued tho educational work on the sub
ject Of roads by means of bulletins issued from
time to time and by the construction OF sample
roads in different parts Of the United States.
Tho first OF these sample roads was completed
at New Brunswick, N. j., last juno. The Sec
ond to be started is now approaching compile
ton at Geneva, n. Y, and is by far the longest
yet built. Others are planned, in course of con.
struction, or completed at Evansville, Ind;
Lynchburg, Va; lion, n. Y. Livingston, r.. l.;
Orono, Me-; Warren, Pa, and Columbus, o.
The sample road at this place was planned
/ last spring. The original estimate Of its cost
was $4,000, of which the village contributed
5000, the township 5000 and residents of
Castle street, in which the road is laid. $4,000.
The time for its construction originally thought
sufficient was six weeks. The Government
furnished free Of charge the road building
plant, consisting of q rock crusher OF n capacity
OF $50 tons of broken rock in q ten-hour day,
Olo Y VI sNlOShS. ohO i'Hu klauVi, WV uib-
~tributing carts and one twcnty-ton road roller.
The Government also furnished the special
agent in charge, while the village and town fur.
nishod material and labor. Actual work was
begun on July 10, under the superintendent
of Il. G. Harrison, special agent of the Road In
quiry Division, assisted by his son, Charles L.
Harrison. Of Asbury Park, n. J.
The sample road as. constructed follows Cas-
tie street from Main to the west line of the
| CA.tn E--@.i.,o-. .ts - t,- % Iz,,t
one and a half miles. For the first half mile the
roadway is eighteen feet wide and eight inches
deep, the eight inches consisting Of q foundation
of five inches OF broken field stone with a sur
facing OF three inches of broken trap rock. For
the next thrce-quarters Of n mile the roadway
Is fourteen feet wide and eight inches deep,
while tho final quarter Of u mile Is eight feet
wide and six inches deep. The first portion is
a sample of n macadamized village street, the
second Is q first-class country road for general
use in thickly inhabited sections, while the third
is a very cheap but serviceable road for moro
thinly inhabited regions. None of these is suitable
for the heavy trucking of cities. On each side
of these sample sections is an ordinary dirt road
thoroughly rolled. intended for light driving in
dry weather.
paratively little human labor being used. The
most important machine is the roller, which
peraambulasins picEaxe. When it is to be put
TO the latter use its two rear wheels, each six
fitted with ffty-six caso-hardenod steel teeth
live inches In length. The wheels make a revo-
do an amount of work equivalent to that per.
formed by 500 men with picks. After the old
ened ma was scrapod to one side BY the
grader. When u sufficient depth had been
in order to form the base OF tho new road. On
this base was then laid the fveinch foundation
course of common field rock. The foundation
rnpk il pf nil grades of hardness and friability
and includes shales, sandstones, limestones,
qnartzites, and GRANTEES; This stone was fur
nrovement and by them hauled to the crusher.
1t was broken to n size about one and one.half
foundation was sprinkled'and thoroughly rolled.
the machine passing over it a score OF times.
then laid, thoroughly sprinkled, and rolled.
When the road engineers first visited Geneva
rocks OF tho fe,d were suitable for the surface
layer Of the road. Closer examination of the
expert sorter to select the material. which could
be used. Accordingly 1t was decided as II mat
ter Of e hiony TT to y Use etr ep;r1ek from the Hn e
is said 10 be superior TO most other rocks Tor
surfacing, because it Is not friable or dust
proper size at the quarries and hauled to
Geneva in capalboats; The size is somewhat
account of low water in the Seneca Canal, the
last order for trap rock was cut short forty.
five yards by the guarrymen, and in order to
complete The road al this time 1t was neces.
sary to use ordinary field stone for srrfacing
added n very thin layer OF trap-rock dust, 10 net
as u cushion, protecting the underlying stone
feet OF animals from the cutting action OF the
stone. The value OF this dust filling is increased
by the small quantity of moisture added from
time to time by means Of a sprinkling cart.
1t was thought that q thin layer of duet from
an sntc iron far fur fur1 trse.r %iEEhs5 0s nFov Such a g z 1Srs srb %s,
the Hbs'G State Experiment. s In ordinary
nth Il Il fairi.- nnnnaafnl M IN rnahiAt,
but in wet weather it is too muddy, and in dry
weather too dusty. After be ing laid the dust
eral days. The constant rolling forces the
rocks into close contact and holds them there.
the angular pieces slip past each other. They
grind together and form a nearly perfect
them: When these angular pieces nre rubbed
together in this way a small portion Of the sur
d%st S coz saia as IS i fittGisn clay i"i It t sSs1i WI" Tsina sbis
as a cement or bond to hold the larger pieces
The only engineering problem met with in
one, being tho reduction of the grade of Max.
msnt agents were unwilling to allow the road
to be built on so steep a grade as 9 per cent,
and raising the base, lengthcning tho hill and
Decreasing the slope.
work, two days OF each week, "Wednesday and
Thursday, were designated rs visiting days,
innterested in road construction On the days
mentioned either Gen. Roy Stone. chief OF tho
division, or Il. q. Harrison, special agent in
charge. vas present and oSTplained in detail
road engineers, road builders. and Others,
awaited themselves OF this OPPORTUNITY and cane
often from distant parts of the country TO
study the construction OF the road.
There has been some grumbling because the
road has cost so much. and has required 80
much time to build. IL is stated that Tho cost
will not exceed The original estimate OF 80, 600.
The reason why the work has required twelve
weeks instead OF The six originally estimated
is that the local commission having charge OF
The purchase OF materials has not been sufi.
GENTLY prompt in ordering stone.