The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1900-06-23
SHELL ROADS


Coast Herald Jsansretts.
[The following correspondence
will no doubt interest our readers.
Besides being q valuable and prsc-
tical exposition on road building,
they can see what our roads have
costs, and also that the fame of
our fine streets has spread abroad. }
FRANKLIN, La, Juns 7th. 1900.
The Mayor of Jssnerette.
Dear Sir:
By letting me know the width, from
bauquet to banquet. the length shelled.
and the cost Cf shelling. Of your Main
street, you would confer b favor which Il
would greatly appreciate. and which l
will gladly reciprocste should the occa-
sion present itself. Ny reason f6f the
request Is that We contemplate shelling
our principal streets, and will have to
increase The bonded Indebtedness OF the
town 8 do so. This Of course makes 1t
necessary for us to have q knowledge Of
the cost. and for the reason that / have
heard 90 much and such favorable COM
nent about the condition Of your streets
eince they were sAslled. know OF no
one in better position to furnish the
desired information.
Yours very truzs.
JOHN c. LEWIS.
Jeanerette. La, June 1ath. 1900
John @. Lewis.
Mayor of franklin, La.
Dear Sir:
Yours Of the syh inst. to hand and no
ted. Could not answer sooner - It was
necessary to ooliect dsts.
The average width from side walk to
1 side walk, is n feet. The total length
is One Mile and 897 Feet. This refers
TO our Main Street. The cost Of she'll
ing same as II b now. including grad
ing and Allint. is s0:050.96. The thick
ness of the shells average "a iacdss In
depth; width shelled. average - feet.
Should you desire TO shsll your Main
street. or other streets; would tdvial
you to first al In the street win sandy
soil. grading to about l8 inchss high 10
center, giving same appearance OF stur'
tle'a back. Then pass heavy tuad roll
Ter over the filing; allow the wheels o.
lcarts and ETC., to pack same - hard u
possible, 60 - TO form crust. You
must have no dust; you may use you
lsprtnkier to advantage to kesp down ths
1dust. When this is done. shen spreaa
labout 8 inches Of shells over the surfae'
To be shelled; pass your roller over thes
| 60 as TO pack and place the shells TO keeI
them from injuring the fest Of the nor
lsss. Let this stand about three tf fou
days and again proceed In the same va,
until you have the required thickness.
When you ara through sheiling, near
lily all the vehicles will be passing in th
Icenter and will cut thrSe quilts int
the shells. These must be flled Wit
fresh shells until the gdliies arc tom
pletely 6lled. Should they continue I
cut in same places, put barrels boxe
or other obstructions In the way q
along 4 certain length of the street
force tho Vehrcles to pass on the cid
After q certain time remove these ol
structions. and In the course Of . mont
lor two you will have street Of Whit
the surface will BE- a. nearly even %
lsmooth ~ an asphalt pavement 70
Imust mot discontinue the use Of 5ov
Istreet sprinkler; sprinkle occasionally
keep the lime and cement qualities
the shells to the proper degree Of hats
ness and at the same time to lay u
ldust.
Which ever way you conclude 10 shel
do not BY any means shell your stree
when they are muddy. Hopis9 this M
be Of service to you renains
Youts very truly,
L. "A. MORRSI.
Mayor Of Jeanefstl
You may as we'll expect to fnn stsa