Amador ledger., 1901-06-21
OIL FOR lone ROAD.

oil, for the purpose of ascertaining its
value as a preservative and to allay the
dust, has hardly progressed far enough
toenable correct opinion to be formed.
The idea is certainly deserving of a
more thorough and scientific test than
has yet been accorded it. The place Sc
lected was the Morrow grade. About
$50 yards of the macadamized roadway
was treated, the width being insuffici-
emit to admit of vehicles passing each
other on the oiled track. The cost of
this experiment, we are informed, was
S35. At this rate, it would cost from
$3.50 to S175 per mile to oil single
track road. Although considerable
complaint has been made against this
oiling experiment, there is no doubt
the complaints are more against the
method of applying the oil than to the
process as whole. The practice was
entirely new to this county, and those
having charge of it were not posted
concerning the most practicable way of
spreading it. Hence, mistakes were
made, resulting in volumne of de-
nunciation which under other circum-
stances might have been avoided The
oil it seems, was poured on the highest
point, leaving it to flow by its own
gravity to the lower places. It was
necessarily unevenly spread, gathering
in pools at points of depression. No
effort was made to keep the traffic off
until the oil had saturated the loose
earth and debris.
Hence, vehicles blowing through it
became spattered with the mixture,
which was so tenacious that it equired
treatment of coal oil to wash it off,
Passengers clothing touched with this
oil-mud was ruined, every particle
leaving stain that defied all attempts
to entirely removeit it. 1t is not to be
wondered at. therefore, that the expert
ment has been voted failure. The
evils incident to the oil were thought
to outweigh the Inconvenience of dust
and the loss occasioned by wear OF the
road bed.
But more than two weeks have
elapsed since the oil was applied, and
the verdict rendered at first is rapidly
undergoing change. This quarter of
a mile of oiled roadway is now by long
odds the best portion of the road. The
heavy travel has packed the combina-
tion of oil, dust and gravel, until it has
formed compact coating akin to
asphaltum. 1t effectually disposes of
the dust, and besides this it promises
to resist the action of water in the
winter season, the water merely run
ming over the greasy surface, without
penetrating, thereby solving the mud
problem in winter time.
The use of oil for road purposes has
advanced beyond the experimental
stage in several of the southern counties
of the state. In San Bernardino county
the supervisors are so satisfied with it
that they are preparing to adopt it on
much more extensive scale. Indeed,
it is claimed to be suitable, not only on
macadamized roads, but for roadbeds
consisting of ordinary alluvium. A
road of this character, treated with a
thick coating of oil, judiciously applied,
is reported to be able to withstand the
heaviest kind of traffic. Of course, the
cheapness of the oil in that section is a
material consideration in its favor,
which will not apply with equal force
to Amador county. There, it has been
found that $50 barrels of oil are re-
quired for every mile of roadway. The
oil is put on sixteen feet wide The
lowest grade of oil is preferred for this
purpose. 1t is applied In this wise:
The oil is first heated to drive out
whatever water it cOntains-all grades
OF oil being found to contain more or
less water. 1t is sprinkled over the
roadway while still warm, for the
reason, we presume, that it is then
thinner, and mixes more readily with
the earthly matter. One-half the width
Ol Vic IOdu 10 " CoVCu 1V q UllI1S. <AlUcI
sprinkling, a coating of dirt is spread
over it, and it is then rolled thoroughly
until the surface is even and solidly
packed No traffic is allowed to pass
over it until after the lapse of at least
"a hours. Thereafter the other half of
the roadbed is treated in like manner.
The estimating the oil at ST per
barrels about S170 PEP mile. 1t
would be more than this in Amador
county. Even allowing 5000 per mile,
and admitting that it would be nee
essary to treat the road twice a year
she second coating of a much lighter
charaeter-it is probable that on this
basis, it would be found far less ex-
pensive, and at the same time a more
efficient method of road construction
and maintenance than the exceedingly
costly and unsatisfactory system OF
operating the lone road that has been
followed for years. The sprinkling OF
that thoroughfare with water cannot
be done for less than $4,000 per year, to
say nothing of the thousands of dollars
expended every year in construction
and repairs. The oil business for road
making and road preserving is worthy
OF serious consideration at the hands of
those who have charge of road af-
fairs in this county. 1t should not be
1ippantly dismissed on account of the
protests hurled against the admittedly
s,nrn4i IL fnru natIlra of the rnnont