The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-12-14
Crude OIL for Bad Roads.

Crude OIL for Bad Roads.
Maj,r M Meigs, civil engineer
of Koekuk, Iowa. made short ad-
dress at yesterdays session of the
Missouri good roads association,
which, in the opinion of many, was
the most interesting part of the days
work. He opened new field of
investigation, and proposed expert
ments in securing good roads along
line practically unknown outside OF
a few localities ia the east 1t is his
opinion that the use of crude oil
may prove q panacea for bad roads in
localities where road material is hard
to obtain.
He said his attention was fret
directed to using oi! on the highways
by reading q newpaper clipping from
a Pennsylvania town. 1t seems that
leaky oil pipe near the town in
question was responsible for the
discovery. This pipe was near a
place in the road that was invariably
impossible during the season of
spring and fall rain Waen the leak
occurred in the pipe the ground
became saturated to some extent
with oil, and very soon it was noticed
that the mud dried up and tne surface
of the earth became hard and remain
ed so It appears that so notorious
was this piece of bad road that the
effect of the oil on 1t became matter
of 80 much comment that presently
the experiment was repeated in
other localities. and with The same
effect.
Major Meigs said that he sent a
letter to the officials of the Standard
Oil company aud asked them to
furnish him some crude oil for expe
rimental purposes They forwarded
8 tank containing $50 barrels with
their compliments and wishes for
success Soma eight barrels of this
oil have been used on q notoriousIy
muddy road near Keokuk with most
satisfactory results
Major Meigs said that it was no
trouble anywhere to keep Glry roads
in good condition at minimum ex-
pense OH will prevent the earth
from becoming wet by forming a
waterproof crust So far as he has
carried on experiments a barrel of
crude oil is sufficient for strip of
road 100 feet long and IL feet wide.
The cost of oil at the wells is about
90 cents barrel No other material,
he said, is 50 cheap, and no other
will prove so effective. IN couclu.
sion, he said that be would send oil
free to all wishing to make expert
ments if they would pay the freight.
Major Meig's speech caused great
deal of comment. To the delegates
it seemed to open an entirely new
field. Many questions were asked
him, all Of which he answered as in.
formation warranted. He explained
the we'll known theory that oil aud
water will not mix, and made it apply
to the question of good roads. The
earth wac porus enough, he said, to
retain the oil and cause it to shed
water, so that where the oil took hold
moisture must depart, and naturally
the earth became compact.
II is maintained that no roads are so
good as dirt ones when they are dry,
and none so cheap In many locaIi-
ties material for constructing mscadam
or gravelroads must be brought long
distances. and consequently is quite
costly. But from what Major Meigs
said it was thought possible that with
the sid of crude oil earth could be
utilized at much less cost than mac
sdam aud gravIe, even when the latter
was near at hand st Louis Repub
lie.