The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-07-12
A SAMPLE ROAD
Work of a Government Exper1-Man-
ner of COnstruction-COst Per Mile.

Mr.. E. @. Harrison, an expert in the
service of the "a inquiry division of
the United States Department OF Ag-
riculture, is showing the Baltimore
county authorities and the residents
of Fork in the Eleventh district. how
to construct a county ROAD which will
be hard, smooth and fit for service in
all seasons. He is building one-half
mile of sample roa on their highway
from Fork to kingsville. This road
has been in bad condition for years.
From time TO time holes lave been
filled with stone to keep the wheels of
vehicles from sinking in the mud. No
attention was paid to grading, thereby
causing bad washes. $780,.
In describing the sample road, Mr..
Harrison said:
Roads constructed in this manner
are called permanent roads, which are
defined in the laws relating to roads
as being hard, smooth and fit for SER
vice in all seasons of the year. This
designation and definition was found
ed in New Jersey, and a been in
~corporated n enacted in many
States.
The roadbed is constructed by first
shaping up the earth and removing
all the large stones. At this point
great care is taken to get the earth,
or sub-fOundatiOn, perfectly hard by
rolling and shaping it the same as the
top dressing. This completed, a foun-
dation of broker stone four inches
thick, the stone being of the larger
size, is put on top of the earth foun-
dalton, and is rolled and packed so
as to force the stones together. thus
making a solid mass, which is known
as the foundation proper. Upon this
is placed a surface layer of stone
nrrIcbnI 20 Tho r;-a ~ 49, 1~ -
half inches. This is rolled thoroughly
and packed, and upon this is placed
the fine stone which fills up all the
spaces and makes a smooth surface.
The side bitches are cleaned to carry
off the water. A shulder of dirt is
formed on each side of the road to
keep the ~roadbed in place.
"A road built in this way will last
forever-that is the bed or body Of the
o will. The surface may in time
became worn, but this can be
repaired easily. The principal OBJ
ject of this construction is to SO pack
the stone as to keep the earth founda-
ton dry n intact, and thus prevent
the earth under the foundation from
forcing it's way to the surface"
The stone used in the construction
Of this piece of road is the best, Mr..
Harrison said. he has ever seen, not
excepting any in the country. 1t is of
an ingeous character and is
known in that section of the county
as Negro Head" 1t is found in
large quantities in huge boulders in
the woods and on the form lands. 1t is
the hardest stone TO be found. Many
of the boulders have to be thrown
aside. owing to the hammers not be-
ing heavy enough to break them in
pieces small enough for the stone
crusher. The boulders are hauled to
places along the road by the m
who are glad to get them off their
farms. and are prepared for the
crusher.
At present carts are employed in
hauling the stone from the crusher.
Mr.. Harrison has arranged for a dis
tributing cart. which will be used in
carrying the stone from the crusher.
and will distribute it along the road
without the aid of men 10 spread il.
This cart has a crank adjustment and
distributes the stone evenly over the
ground to any depth.
COST PER MILE.
The sample road will be completed
in about one month. One mile of It
would cost about 81. 500. The road is
from IA to Is feet wide One county in
New Jersey has over 100 miles OF such
roads. They cost less than the ordi-
nary a to keep them in repair.
Mr.. Harrison has been constructing
roads since 1859. He has been in the
road inquiry department since it's for
nation and was for -four years con-
sulting engineer. During the past
two years he has been actively engag-
ed in the work. In Baltimore county
about $40. 600 is expended each year
for the improvement and building Of
roads.-Baltimore Sun.