The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1899-11-09
MACADAMIZED ROADS.
Arronincnt L. A. w. Official Tells
Row They Should Be Constructed
and Maintained.

creases, more frequent attempts are
made by the country road builders to
construct stone or n1acadam roads. Or
course, some of this macadamizing is
excellently done, hut the great ma jor-
itv OF cases are characterized by an
utter want of that expert knowledge
which is required for selecting the best
materials and using them in the right
way. Failures are especially numerous
in respect to the methods adopted"
saws Otto Dorner, chairman of the l..
a. w. highway improvement commit
tee.
"A stone road of any kind is neces-
sarily expensive, and poorly con-
structed macadam road always means
a waste of considerable funds. The
subject is, therefore, deserving of es-
pecial study, and the farmers may be
depended upon to familiarize them
selves thoroughly with the principles
which have governed this work, espe-
cially in New Jersey, where so much
macadamizing has-heen done by state
aid We may expect that, in time, the
construction Of stone roads will be-
come as familiar to farmers as the
growing of wheat, but at present there
is very little general information on
the subject"
ssThe two points to be observed in
building stone roads are, first, to pro-
vide Il proper foundation, and, second,
to roll and compact the stone metal
with the utmost thoroughness. To be-
Gin with, the subsoil, which is to serve
as a foundation for the stone, must be
properly crowned, sloping down from
the middle to each side of the road, and
must then be rolled until it is abso-
]ntely hard and smooth. The road
should take its shape from the shape
of the foundation. The stone is but a
covering or roof for the protection OF
the ground beneath"
''The stone used should be put down
In LAYERS not more than four inches
thick, and it is well, where several lay
ers of stone are used, to sort the ma
terial and to use the larger pieces for
the lower layer. This sorting is done
by means of a rotary screen attached
to the rock crusher. In building ma
cadam roads in Massachusetts, and On
tario, the lower layer is usually COM
posed of stone which will pass through
a hole 21h inches in diameter. The Sec
ond layer usually consists of pieces
which will pass through 1H-inch
hole"
''Rolling. is the most important point
in the treatment of macadam or stone
roads A heavy roller should always
be used, heavy enough to wedge the
pieces of stone firmly together. The
roller accomplishes this by shifting the
pieces about until each Is lodged firmly
between adjoining pieces, which read
lily explains the greater effectiveness
Of the heavy machine. Two things may
prevent successful rolling; either the
failure to provide a solid foundation,
or the practice, which is very common
of spreading gravel or dirt over layer
of stone before it is rolled. The idea
of using such "binder" is bad mis-
take. In either event, the dirt or gravel
getting between the loose particles OF
stone, will prevent their becoming firm
~ wedged. A mixing Of stone and
earth, which is thus frequently brought
am road, is little better than an ordi-
nary dirt road; indeed, it is inferior in
some particulars. The material in a
road thus constructed is sure to shift
about under the pressure of narrc--
tired wheels, which ree--"
t 1to "a .-sae working their way t.
80 rep, rendering the road rough ane
uncomfortable for travel. The hes
! way to help the stone 70 ''bind" is tt
| thoroughly sprinkle it with water be
fore and during the rolling process. AL
most every kind of stone has more 81
less cenenting qualities, and it's satura
ton with water while it is being rolled
serves admirably to help unite the diff
ferent pieces firmly. The second layer
of stone is frequently OF less thickness
than the layer below. This layer should
also be thoroughly and repeatedly
| rolled without the use Of gravel or dir
| as supposed binder, and with the use
of abundant water to help in cement
| ing it. After the layers Of stone are
entirely completed and have been thor
onghly rolled and PACKED, it is we'll tt
| spread layer Of gravel, by way of tor
dressing, and to roll that thoroughly
| Better still is to make this layer O.
| stone screenings, which will unite bet
| ter than gravel does. This dressing vii!
prevent wearing the macadam road
proper, and, as it disappears with use
and travel, should be Renewed from
time to time, leaving the stone con
struction below absolutely perfect
"A rlacadam road, properly built an6
with proper slope to each side, will read
lily drain off water and snow. The OBJ
ject Of all read experts is to so construct
macadam road that water cannot per
| meate it. If water is allowed to find its
way through the macadam road into
the foundation below, it is sure to work
mischief; and if the road is then sub
5ected to any considerable pressure
from the wheels of heaviIy-loaded wag
ons, it is certain to give way. Hence
! the proper maintenance and care of q
macas'am road are as important as. its
proper construction. IF once the road
be damaged in this way, the work of de-
structlon is bound to continue It is
therefore, as important to prevent this
first damage as it is to prevent the first
small hole in DAM
Taxpayers, who are obliged to con.
tribute to the cost of macadarn roads
will Go well to see to it that the work
Is properly done. The old adage that
what Is worth doing at all is worth do
ing we'll applies with irresistible force