The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-11-23
STEEL ROADS "A SUCCESS.
An interesting Project Takes Practi.
cal Shape-A Good Thing and Very
Costly.

y cal Shape-A Good Thing and Yer
Costly.
n Great interest is shown by the agr
g cultural department o! the Unite
i States in the good roads movement. i
[ which the people of Jouth Carolin
: are beginning to take part, and whicI
t is arousing much enthusiasm in al
parts OF the country. In order to pro
7 mote experiments IN this direction
: the Office OF road inquiry was cstat
lished, in charge of General Roy Ston,
} as director. The object to be attaineC
Is to furnish durable wearing
material which will provide a smooth
surface that will reduce the labor .
hauling heavy loads, and at the same
time, reduce the cost of maintenance
There is to be an attempt to educate
public sentiment up to the appreciation
of good roads and a Willingness to con.
struct them.
AS part of the work of the ollice of
road inquiry. arrangements were made
by which sample roads have been
completed at New Brunswick, N. j.,
and Geneva, N Y, the latter about
II mlles in length, having macad-
amized middle section feet wide,
with rolled dirt roads on either side.
Ihe department has for some time
|
! to determine the practicability OF steel
| trackways on wagon roads. The latest
plan is to lay such tracks in order that
the wheels OF wagons may run on q
smooth surface, instead of on the
rough and soggy path over which for
u great part of the year horses are
compelled to founder. The results of
experiments by two prominent en-
gipeers are here given. One series of
experiments made by Abel Bliss, of
New LenoX, Ill, is particularly in.
lowing statement made by him:
have laid about 100 feet OF steel
road in the public highway near my
home at New LenoX, Ill. The road
was first graded in proper shape. The |
rails are OF steel, II OF an inch thick, |
inches wide, with downward llange |
OF inches on either side, and an up |
ward ilange OF inch OH the outer edge |
TO keep the wheels on. These rails |
were laid on the crown of the grade
and pressed into the soil to the depth
OF the flange, or until the soil sup.
ported the rail. The downward llauges
prevent the soil from being pressed
away from the rail and hold it there,
making firm foundation, SO that no
ties are necessary on which to rest the
rails. Th 3se rails are made continu
GUS by the fastening of the ends to-
gether with lish-plates.
When | mentioned my idea Of this
roadway, 1T was sugg Csted that the
rails would sink under heavy loads in
wet weather and soon become covered
with mud. Others suggested that they
would tip to one side, becoming useless
and also that unless they were laid on
ties they would spread and get out Of
line. This track was laid to satisfy
myself on these and other points. Dur
Ing the recent wet period mud holes
were made at the ends OF the track by
the wheels dropping always in the
same place. This very severe test [
however, did not affect the rails, ex- |
cept at the end. On q continuous line
)f track severe and uncommon usage [
would not in any way have injured or {
changed the rails, hence | should not
expect this roadway to need repairs
after wet period. The earth between {
the rails Is removed to depth OF 5 {
inches and the excavation filled with
gravel for the horses tread. This
road has now been in use for eighteen {
and has been tested with all J
kinds OF traffic, including traction en-
gines. | have never seen horse slip |
On the rails, but they might occasional {
ly do SO. a horse is most likely to
slip when pulling bard, which they
will not be obliged to do on this road
way, and there is little occasion for q
horse to tread on the rails, as there is
room enough between them.
- A mile Of road requires about sixty
tons of steel, which can be produced
in quantities for $l,S00 or less. One
cubic yard of gravel is required to the {
rod. For this roadway { make the
following claims:
First: 1t saves power. A vehicle
may run on it with the least possible
draft. 1t Is estimated by engineers
that the required draft is one-ifth of
that on gravel and one-twentieth OF
that on the average dirt road.
Second: : 1t saves wear and tear to
wagons. a vehicle is always on level
sn ooth surface, and is MT subjected
to irregular strains, as when one side
OF 1T is much lower than the other,
causing two wheels to carry most of
the load, or when q wheel drops il u
rut. "A town will save enough vehicles
alone to pay large portion OF the cost
of the ROAD.
Third 1t saves time. With a
load OF two or three tons, a team will
trot as easily on level grrund as it will
walk on gravel or dirt road.
Fourth (: 1T is a perfect bicycle |
road, and will be greatly appreciated |
by wheelmen.
Fifth: 1t is extremely durable,
and the repairs will be nominal.
Sixth. The dust that is so annoy
ing on gravel or dirt road is caused |
largely by the grinding OF the wheels.
On this road there could be no such
grinding.
Seventh 1t is motorcycle road,
and speed OF 20 miles an hour can be
attained with safety.
" In conclusion The universal use
OF this road will increase the value Of
the farm it will beautify the street,
because when we cease to rut, the road
grass will take the place Of weeds. 1T
will make possible the free delivery of
mail in rural districts, by bicycle or
other swift vehicle. Travelling will be
as safe at night as in the. day, because
the team will keep the road"
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