The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1900-01-26
MACADAMIZED ROADS.
A Prominent l.. 4. W. OnlcfnI TON.
How They should lie Constructed
and Maintained.

construct stone or macadam roads. q
course, some of this macadamizino
eXcellently done, but the great major
ity of cases are characterized by a.
utter want Of that expert knowledg
which is required for selecting the hes
materials and using them in the RICH
way. Failures are especially numerou
in respect to the methods adopted.
says Otto Dorner, chairman of the L
a. w. highway improvement commit
tee.
~ stone road Of any kind is neces
sarily expensive, and a poorly con
structed macadam road always mean.
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 10 farmers as the
growing Of wheat, but at present there
is very little general information on
the subject"
1.-THE two points TO be 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 a 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 It is abso-
lntely hard and smooth. The road
should take It's shape from the shape
of the foundation. The stone IS but
covering or roof for the protection of
the ground beneath"
"The 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 means Of a rotary screen attached
to the rock crusher. In building ma
radam roads I'm Massachusetts, and On
tario. the lower layer is usually COM
posed Of stone which will pass through
/ hole Pc inches in diameter. The sec
md layer usually consists Of pieces
which will pass through a 1Hs-inch
lole."
Rolling is the most important point
n the treatment Of macadam or stone
'oads. A heavy roller should always
'e used, heavy enough TO wedge the
pieces of stone firmly together. The
'oller accomplishes this by shifting the
pieces about until each is lodged firmly
between adjoining pieces, which read
~ explains the greater effectiveness
# the heavy machine. Two things may
'revent successful rolling; either the
allure to provide a solid foundation,
r the practice, which Is very common,
f spreading gravel or dirt over layer
f stone before It is rolled The idea
+ using such binder" Is a bad mis-
axe. In either event, the dirt or gravel.
citing between the loose particles OF
tone, will prevent their becoming firm
= wedged. A mixing of stone and
arth, which is thus frequently brought
bout in an attempt to build a macad-
m road, is little better than an ordi-
airy dirt road; indeed. IL is inferior in
ONE particulars. The material I'm a
Dad thus constructed is sure to shift
bout under the pressure of narrow
ired wheels, which results In the larger
ieces of stone working their way to
be top, rendering the road rough and
uncomfortable for travel. The best
ray TO help the stone 10 blind" Is 10
thoroughly sprinkle it with water be-
ore and during the rolling process. Al
lost every kind Of stone has more or
SIS cementing qualities, and its satura-
on with water while It is being rolled |
srves admirably 20 help unite the diff
rent pieces firmly. The second layer |
( stone is frequently Of less thickness
nan the layer below. This layer should !
$50 be thoroughly and repeatedly |
)lled without the use of gravel or dirt |
5 a supposed binder, and with the use
{ abundant water to help IN cement
~ it. After the layers Of stone are |
ltirely completed and have been thor
lghly rolled and packed, il is well TO
bread a layer Of gravel, by way of top |
ressing, and 10 roll that thoroughly. |
etter still Is TO make this layer Of |
one screenings. which will unite bet
II than gravel does. This dressing will |
revent wearing the macadam road
roper, and, as it disappears with use
nd travel, should be renewed from
me to time. leaving the stone con-
ruction below absolutely perfect"
"a macadam road, properly built and
it'll proper slope to each side, will read
v drain off water and snow. The OBJ
ct of all road experts is to so construct
macadam road that water cannot per-
cate it. If water is allowed TO find its
ay through the macadam road into
le foundation below, il is sure to work |
ischief: and If the road is then sub
cted to any considerable pressure
ON the wheels of heavily-loaded wag-
Is, II is certain to give way. Hence,
le proper maintenance and care Of
acadam road are as important as its
roper construction. II once the road
e damaged in this way, the work Of de-
ruction is bound to continue. It Is, |
lerefore, as important to prevent this
rst damage as it is to prevent the first
nall hole in a DAM"
Taxpayers. who are obliged to con-
'ibute to the cost of macadam roads, /