The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1899-10-19
GOOD ROADS NOTES


As the necessity Tor goa roads /
more frequent s.tempts arc
made by the country road boiIders TO
construct stone or nacadam roasls. |
Failures are especially numerous il
respec. TO the methods adopted"
says Otto Dorner, Chairman OF the
L. A. ". Highway Improvement Com
inittee.
''We may expect that. in time, ths
construction OF stone roads will he
come ns familiar to farmers as the
growing OF wheat, but at present there
y very little general Information ON
the subject
1.-The two points to be observed il
building stone roads are, frst. to pro-
vide proper foundation, and second,
to roII md compact the stone metal
WITH rhe utmost thcronghness. To
begin with, the subsoil, which is to
serve rs q foundation for the stone.
must he properly crowned, sloping
down froEi the middle TO each side of
the road, and must then be rolled un-
til i: is absolutely hard aud smooth.
The road shonll take its shape from
INC VI tuC iouho0tAOa nC
stone is but t. covering or roof for the
protection CT the ground .beneath.
Ia order that this roof may be solid,
it mus. rest upon something abso-
Iutely firm. A soft earth bottom can
not support stu, roadway intended
for ord'na1v heavy travel. Where the
road ~ bzilt upon low ground. the
foundation should be draincl as
well.
The stone used should be put
down in layers not more than four
inches Thick, aad j. is we'll, where
several layers Of stone are used, to
| sort The material aud tor the larger
pieces for the lower layer. This
sorting is done by means Of rotary
| screen attached to the rock crusher.
III building macadam roads in Massa
chusetts aud Ontario. the lower
layer is usually composed of stone
which will pass through hole two
and one halfinches in diameter. The
second layer usually consists of pieces
which will pass through one and
one half 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 to-
gether. The roller accomplishes this
by shifting the pieces about until each
is lodged firmly between adjoining
pieces, which readily explains the
greater effectiveness of the heavy ma
chine. Two things may prevent sue
cessful rolling; either the failure to
provide 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
mistake. In either event. the dirt or
gravel, getting between the loose
particles of stone, will prevent their
becoming firmly wedged. A mixing
of stone and earth, which is thus fre
| quently brought about in an attempt
to build a macadam road, is little
better than an ordinary dirt road; in
deed, it is inferior in some particu
lars. The material in q road thus
constructed is sure to shift abou
under the pressure of passing marrow
tired wheels, which result in thu
larger pieces of stone working thei
way to the top, rendering the roat
rough and uncomfortable for travel
The best way to help the stone t.
bind is to thoroughly sprinkle i
with water before and during tn
rolling process. Almost every kin'
OF stone has more or less cementin
qualities, aud its saturation Wit
water while it is being rolled serve
admirably to help unite the different
! pieces firmly. The second layer o
stone is frequently of less thickness
than the layer below. This laye
should also be thoroughly and re
oeatedly rolled without the use c
gravel or dirt as a supposed binde,
and with the use of abundant waite
! to help in ce,nenting it. After th
layers of stone are entirely complete
and have been thoroughly role
and packed, it is we'll to sprea
, layer Of gravel, by the way of to
: dressing, ana to roll that thoroughly
Better still is to make this layer {
l stone screenings, which will unit
q better than gravel does. This dress
u ing will prevent wearing the mscadal
a road proper, and, as it disappear
t with use and travel, should be r
3 newed from time to time, leaving th
+ stone construction below absolutel
perfect.