The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1900-01-26
MACADAM1ZED ROADS,
A Prominent l.. 4. w. oTcinI Teit,
How They should he Constructed
and Maintained.


made by the country road builders TO
construct stone or macadam roads. or
course. some of this matchmaking is
eXcellently done, but the great major
ity 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"
says 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
matchmaking has been 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"
"The two points to he observed in
building stone roads are, first, to pro-
vide 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 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 il is abso-
| lntely hard and smooth. The road
should take its shape from the shape
of the foundation. The stone is but
! covering or roof for the protection OF
the ground beneath"
"rhe 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 mears of a rotary screen attached
to the rock crusher In building ma
| cadam roats in Massachusetts and On
| tario, the lower layer is usually com
posed of stone which will pass through
a hole 21a 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 accompiishes 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 solid foundation,
or the practice, which is very common,
OF spreading gravel or dirt over layer
of stone before il 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
ly wedgcd. A mixing of stone and
earth, which is thus frequently brought
about in an attempt to build n mucad-
am road, is little better than an ofdi.
nary dirt road; indeed, il is inferior in
some particulars. The material in n
road thus constructed is sure to shift
about under the pressure Of narrow
tired wheels, which results in the larger
pieces of stone working their way to
the top, rendering the road rough and
uncomfortable for travel. The best
way to help the stone to blind" is to
thoroughly sprinkle ii with water be
fore and during the rolling process. Al
most every kind of stone has more or
less cementing qualities, and its 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 dirt
as a 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
oughly rolled and packed, il is well to
spread a layer of gravel, by way of top
dressing, and to roll that thoroughly.
Better still is to make this layer of
stone screenings, which will unite bet
ter than gravel does. This dressing will
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 macadam road, properly built and
with proper slope to each side, will read
lily drain off water and snow. The OBJ
ject of all road 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
jected to any considerable pressure