The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-07-14
GRAVEL OR STONE.

EDlTOR tCEPUBLlCAN.
In view of the fact that much has
been said about gravel and crushed
stone for road and street improvement
lately, have been asked by different
taxpayers to give my views to the
public, on account of the many years of
experience in this line of work. Like
most other men, used to have theories,
which experience and actual test have
so changed, that I do not now rely on
theory, but only on actual tests and
facts. - --~
As to, a choice between crushed stone
and gravel, for making good road or
street, there is no material choice.
Provided always that the stone and
gravel are of the same quality as to
solidity and cleanness of other un-
worthy material. Good crushed stone
is much better than poor gravel, and
contra, good gravel is just as much
better than poor crushed stone.
1t is not much Of a question therefore
between gravel and crushed stone, but
it is very vital question with either
as to quality. One of the chief reasons
that most of our country pixies are
better, smoother and more durable
than our city streets, is that the gravel
when put on, was freer from dirt or
other foreign substances.
know that it is popular opinion
with many persons, who are wise coun-
selors in things they have thoroughly
studied, that some dirt or clay in the
gravel will make better road. 1t
evidently will for the first few weeks,
especially if there is but little rain, as
the dirt will cause the gravel to pack
quickly, but In wet time, and espe-
cially in the Spring when the frost is
coming out, it becomes soft as deep
and even deeper than the dirt in the
gravel.
The chief object of putting gravel on
the road is to have crust formed that
water will not penetrate. Any other
material that will not chemically COM
bine with the gravel and harden to a
water proof condition, fails of this
object. Clean crushed stone or gravel,
with q little, clean, sharp sand, there
fore makes our best roads. But they
must have time, rain Tor water) and use,
to pack and form the necessary crust.
The wear of the road grinds off lime
dust enough, with the proper dampness,
| to form the necessary chemical combi-
nation and density to accomplish this
desired result.
A better, but more expensive way,
land one advisable in the city, is to put
the gravel or stone on in layers, and
roll each layer, after properly wetting
| it, with very heavy roller.
The trouble with nearly all the gravel
put on the streets in this city, hereto
fore, was the unreasonable amount OF
strippings and other dirt mixed in with
it. And the same is equally true with
nearly all the crushed stone. The most
of the gravel used was. good enough
had it been free from injurious sub
stances. Likewise, there is excellent
stone in our quarries, for splendid roads
if properly crushed and applied. But
the soft, dirty stone found near the
surface, Tor any where else) crushed
and applied with all the dirt that hangs
to them, will not and cannot, under any
circumstances, make a durable drive
way. North Detroit street is an ex
ample of nice driveway, when damp
enough not to be dusty and not wet
enough to be sloppy. But it will mo-
endure many years of hard service
Not half as''many as if made from thu
best stone in the same quarry and a
above suggested. H. c. MOORE.