Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-12-10
CRUDE OIL FOR BAD ROADS.

Accidental Discovery Which May Change
the Whole Service of Road Making.
St. Louis Republic.
Major M. Meigs, civil engineer of
Keokuk, Iowa, made a short address
at Yesterdays session of the Missouri
good roads association, which, in the
opinion of many, was the most inter-
esting part of the days work. He
opened new field of investigation,
and proposed experiments in securing
good roads along a line practically un-
known outside of few localities in
the East. 1t is his opinion that the
use of crude oil may prove panacea
for bad roads in localities where road
material is hard to obtain.
He said his attention was first direct
ed to using oil on the highways by
reading a newspaper clipping from
PENNSYLVANIA town. 1t seems that a
leaky oil pipe near the town in ques-
tion was responsible for the discovery.
This pipe was near place in the road
that was invariably impossible during
the season of spring and fall rain.
When the leak occurred in the pipe the
ground became saturated to some ex-
tent with oil, and very soon it was
noticed that the mud dried up and the
surface of the earth became hard and
remained so. 1t appears that so noto-
rious was this piece of bad road that
the effect of the oil on it became a
matter of 80 much comment that pres
emily the experiment was repeated in
other localities, and with the same
effect.
Major Meigs said that he sent let.
ter to the officials of the Standard Oil
company and asked them to furnish
him some crude oil for experimental
purposes. They forwarded tank
containing 13O barrels with their com.
pliments and wishes foFsuccess. Some
eight barrels of this oil have been used
on a VIGOROUSLY muddy road near
Keokuk with much satisfactory results.
Major Meigs said that it was no
touble anywhere to keep dry roads in
good condition at minimum expense.
Oil will prevent the earth from becom-
ing wet by forming waterproof crust.
So far as be has carried on expert
ments barrel of crude oil is sufficient
for a strip of road 100 feet long and IL
feet wide. The cost of the oil at the
wells is about 80 cents barrel. No
other material, he said, is SO cheap,
and no other will prove so effective.
In conclusion, be said that he would
send oil free to all wishing to make
experiments if they would pay the
freight.
Major Meigs's speech caused a great
deal of comment. To the delegates ii
seemed to open an entirely new field.
Many questions were asked him, all OF
which he answered as information
warranted. He explained the well
known theory that oil and water will
not mix, and made it apply to the
question of good roads. The earth
was porous enough, he said, to retain
the oil and cause it to shed water, 30
that where the oil took hold moisture
must depart, and naturally the earth
became compact.
1t is maintained that no roads are 30
good as dirt ones, when they are dry,
and none so cheap. In many localities
material for constructing macadam or
gravel roads must be brought long
distances, and consequently is quite
costly. But from what Major Melgs
said, it was thought possible that with
the aid of crude oil, earth could be
utilized at a much less cost than mac
adam and gravel, even when the latter
was near at hand.