Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1899-12-09
crushed Rock VS.. Gravel

hard bottom there. 1t is not
r n do that. ANYONE watching
traffic in the street can observe the
II oroye crushed rock will be better
rheaper than Mr.. Hibbs cement
,..ro we must do more than dig with
.,t in the street. Let him select
ak and put down his cement gravel or
other gravel in whatever manner he
.ns host The writer will construct
,he adjoining block road in the most
orroved methods, of crushed rock.
he BY side subjected to the same traffic
.ae, nrecisely similar conditions it will
0royer beyond question that crushed
oek will be lower in cost ofnaintainance
nd preferable in every way. That is the
lain made from the first.
The writer has been through the
cement gravel period. When less ex-
Ip1euced in such work he listened to a
nan with "a discovery" like Mr.. Hibbs'.
accidental pavement" had been
buud. The people wanted low cost
oais They got them and the writer
,as added to the list of men who dislike
lend too credulous ear to the talk of
he practical n man.
In Mr.. Hibbs' mind the practical man
one who makes accidental dis
foyeries." The man who studies and
butts into practice what he learns is a
Theoretical man." He cannot be
practical since he earns his living by
uch work. To be really practical and
qualified to advise he must make sac
Eilental discoveries"
Mr.. Hibbs should be old enough and
sensible enough to know that many
bther places in the world possess gravel
beds. There must be some where the
gravel in all respects is like Lewiston
gravel. -
They have tried it. Writers ON the
Subject Of roads have treated gravel ex-
haustvely. Engineers know about the
different kinds.
1t is hardly right to speak so sighting
III Of books and Theoretically constructed
streets. In common language theory is
Emere hypothesis. AS for instance Mr..
Hbbs argues unanimously and frames a
Erule from his one accidental discovery. !"
lie Is therefore a pure theorist. In
eentlhc language theory is term
Stronger than hypothesis. When series
[o facts have been generalized from and
Il general law formulated then theory
Nm Its scientific sense, has been evolved.
In science theoretically trained man is
4 student who proves by experiment. In
The sense in which Mr.. Hibbs uses the
word theory the engineer is a man who
reads books and learns nothing by ex.
srience.
Engineering is a science covering a
broad field, and there are engineers who
nave never built roads. Their judgement
until they had actually done some work
would be no more safe than MI. Hibbs
me books to which an engineer goes for
MS facts before he commences to accumu
a'e experience are written by men of ex
Frience. In them can be found descrip
IONS oil all kinds of materials, their cost
ac's about maintenance, and advice and
'ouhsei from these experienced men t.
'ne'f less experienced professional breth
ern.
Inc literature is increasing. When
e'ei man gets hold of job out of tn,
urinary he straightway tells all h,
A"o~s about it to society or writes hi
experience for ateehnical paper. 1t i
D'''ussed by everyman who believes h,
, ,a a''d anything of interest or value
= MI Hfbbs proposed gravel pavemen
p'o'es superior to crushed rock til,
",,s' would feel in duty bound to de
e II In technical paper of wild
Wv m'uiation. Others would then benefit
"nen Mr. Hibbs made his "accidenta
= ''ery' he published the facts i'll til
's''ef' Since Mr.. Hibbs went into prin
!. ~. az authority? in such slight evidenc
eeoihes him to sheer at men VIII
ing books and men who read books
~ hlm stick to his mining and new.
r1tei work, BY his positive assertion
;. airing of theories which have bee
.'sproyen hundreds of times by co,nrt
!, ,A' men and his back handed fiings Z
81 ueh who are honestly trying to soly
pooiems he does harm A littl
Osiedge isl dangerous thing but a
1--WE ignorance isworse. -
,he writer believes further discussio
"'' Oe ruthless. Since MIR. Hibbs r,
'eNe thaf anything like til
VISION gravel has ever before bee
a.. VIII take a. comparative test ,
'e 'ne matter, The writer as resu
study and from practical experien,
,.suueting many miles of streets an
- sun asserts that crushed rock as
material is superior in every way
s@'e' aud Costs less to maintain. An
: where the discussion started.
~ hibbs statement that the I.ewistc
s' mas been shipped abroad in c;
u lots for paving purposes is challenI
also his statement that it is spe CT