The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-09-05
MiGIDIM ROaDS.
Prominent l.. a. w. Official Tells
How They should he Constructed.

| Aio" bc
''As the necessity for good roads in
ereases, more frequent attempts are
made by the country road builders to
construct stone and macadam roads OF
course, some Of this matchmaking is
excelently done, but the great majority
| of cases are characterized by an utter
want of that expert knowledge which
| Is required for selecting the best mate
| rails and using them in the right way.
Failures are especially numerous in re-
| spect to the methods adopted, says
| Otto Dorner Chairman of the L. A. W.
| Highway improvement Committee.
"A stone road of any kind is necessa-
Fily expensive, and poorly constructed
| road always means a waste of consid-
cradle funds The subject is, there
fore, deserving of especial study, and
the farmers may be depended upon to
famiiarize themselves thoroughly with
the principles which have governed this
work, especially in New Jersey, where
so much matchmaking has been done
by State aid. We may expect that, in
time, the construction of stone roads
will become as familiar to farmers as
the growing of wheat, but at present
there is very little general information
on the subject"
The two points to be observed in
stone roads are first, to provide a
proper foundation, second, to roll and
compact the stone metal with the ut
most thoioughness. To begin with,
the subsoil which Is to serve as foun-
dalton for the stone, must be properly
crowned, slipping down from the middle
to each side of the road, and must then
be rolled until 1t is absolutely 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. In
order that this roof may be solid 1t
must rest upon something absolutely
firm. A soft earth bottom cannot sup
port stone roadway intended for ordi-
nary heavy travel. Where the road is
built upon low ground the foundation
should be drained as WE'LL
'The stone used should be put down
in layers not more than four inches
thick, and it is well. where several lay
ere of stone are used, to sort the mate
rial 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 macadam
roads in Massachusetts and Ontario,
the lower layer is usually composed of
stone which will pass through a hole
two and one-h half inches in diameter.
The second layer usually consists of
pieces which will pass through a one
and one-half inch hole.
Polling 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 ac-
complishes this by shifting the pieces
about until each is lodged firmly be-
tween adjoining pieces which readily
explains the greater effectiveness Of the
heavy machine Two things may pre-
vent successful rolling; either the fail
ure 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 mistake. |
In either event, the dirt or gravel, get |
ting between the loose particles of |
stone, will prevent their becoming firmly |
wedged. A mixing of stone and earth,
which is thus frequently brought about |
In an attempt to build a macadam road, /
IS little better than an ordinary dirt
road; indeed, ii is inferior in some par
ticulars. The material in a road thus
is sure to shift about under
the pressure of passing narrow tired
wheels, which results in the larger
pieces Of stone working their way to the