The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-07-15
Crude Oil In Roei Work,

For many years 1t has been known
that the use Of OIL on troubled waters
greatly calms them. Recently some
railway companies have experimental
with 1t for the purpose Of laying dust,
which 1t IS claimed that 1t will do for
very long time, and now IT'S value In
improving country roads Is forcibly as
serted by j. G. Wlnger, Of Grand Val
ley, Pa. This gentleman says that he
has devoted his whole life, since the
discovery Of OIL, to it's development, and
has made study Of the great blessing
that 1t gives 70 man, and believes that
the time Is not far In the future when
dusty and muddy roads will be condi-
tons unknown, and THAI crude oil viii
bring this reform about. The expert
ence on which he principally bases his
opinion he described In letter TO the
OIL City Derrick:
"In the winter of 1894, near Grand
Valley, a small plug was forced out Of
an Oil line, and a quantity Of oil spurted
on the road. The snow was thoroughly
saturated with oil for about one rod in
diameter The Oil was spread over the
road by the feet of horses and the ac-
ton of sleigh runners for the distance
Of about four rods The roads In this
valley are clay bottom and very dusty
In dry weather. and muddy in wet, and
it's no unusual thing to see ten to twen-
ty inches In the season.
'eThis biz Of road, and the crude oil
referred to. have attracted my atten-
ton ever since; for, when the dry
weather returned and dusty roads
were the hailing salutation Of every
one you met these particular four rods
Of road were as free from dust ns a
well-kept. brick-paved street, and after
a shower, when the dusty roads We're
converted into beds of mud, this section
Of the road was as dry as IL no rain had
fallen. The writer has explained the
phenomenon to many observers who
were ignorant of the cause. At present,
and after the action Of three summers
and winters, there is still to be seen the
unmistakable evidence Of the preserv-
ing qualities Of the crude oil. Now.
accepting the foregoing observations as
truth, Is 1t not safe to conclude that o
solution Of the greatest public question
has a necleus on which to rest a hope?
"Ofl and earth have an affinity for
each other. and, when united In proper
proportions on roadbed, are for long
time inseparable The oil on the road
bed prevents the earth from rising in
dust, and excludes water, and hence
the impossibiltty of mud. 1t looks rea-
sonable that an oil-treated road, prop
erly shaped, will remain mudless; when
snow falls, even In small quantities, It
will give good sleighlng, and when the
snow goes in the spring It win be ready
for comfort, pleasure a1ld business
%Ip the employment Of crude oil for
good roads no change need be made In
the mode of construction now In gener-
al use. The roadbed should be properly
shaped with machinery, and immedi-
ately after working and forming, and
while the earth is loose and best adapt
ed for the absorption Of OIL the OIL
should be applied. after the manner Of
sprinkling streets. The quantity of oil
to the rod of road can only be deter
mined by experiments and actual tests.
The writer's opinion, based on observa-
ton, is that one barrel Of oil to each
three rods of road will suffice. This, If
the writer has not erred in his figures,
will be oil to the depth Of one-third Of
an inch. Current price Of oil, and cost
Of applying, will determine expense Of
treating a mile Of road. Should not an
join issue for experiments in the inter
est Of good roads, and a demand for
cheap OIL. A. w. Bulletin.