The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-06-16
due ont and filed with dry earth.

be dug out and filed with dry earth.
The bed is now ready to receive the
bed rock, which should consist of 6 inches
of stone broken so that 1t will go through
4 3-inch ring, evenly spread by dumping
wagon or by being cast with shovel
never by dumping and pulling to place
with a rake, as there will always be more
stone where the dump was. A heavy
harrow is of great assistance in leVellng
the stone preparatory to rolling
The second layer should consist of to
4 inches of stone broken to go through
a 2-inch ring with everything that VIII go
through a 1-inch ring taken out, TINS
layer should be sprinkled and rolled I'M
til there is no impression OF the rolls
visible. The third and last layer to be
put in consists of screenings or any
stone less than inch in diameter, which
should be spread on to the depth Of lh to
inches. / find that If 1t is possible, that
it is best to flood this coat with water in
the evening, and leave it until it is dry
enough the next day not to STICK to the
rolls. 1t should then be rolled until it
is so firm that a piece of the material
used, thrown under the rolls will be
crushed and not be forced into the sur
face.
The repairing of a macadam road, in
my opinion. requires more skill and in
telligence than the original construction,
as there are more varied conditions to be
met with. For the first few years the
loosening of the surface Of any depression
and the filling up of the same with
broken stone not larger than " inches,
will keep the road in good shape, If the
proper quantities are used But after 4
or years usage it will generally require
TO be surfaced with to inches OF stone.
To do this first fill all the ruts and de-
pressions with broken stone, insert the
spikes in the large rolls, and break up
the surface of the road by going over 1t
with the roller. this will so break the
bond. that heavy harrow (5x5 feeU with
teeth 1hx12 inches) will leave 1t looking
as If a roller had never been used. TO
properly shape up crown use road
machine as ii does the work rapidly and
economically. The spikes having been
removed the surface is thoroughly rolled
to prepare it for the reception OF a coat
ing of to 4 inches 11a stone), which is
put on to replace what has worn, blown
cor been washed away. The further
construction. To get stone for this work
it is necessary to set the jaws OF the
crusher very close, thereby diminishing
the capacity about one-half. With the
exception of about the first 10 or 10 yards
of screening or small stone, which mas
10 be dumped the entire output OF the
crusher may be disposed of at one hand
ling. This work costs about $4OO per
mile, or so cents per cubic yard
A serious draw back to this work IS the
| use of large stone in the first layer
which is done by some road builders to
save the cost of crushing, whereas the
extra labor in placing, and the greater
quantity required, to say nothing OF the
greater wear in the roller, make their
use much more costly, in the first in
stance. In spiking very many of the large
stones are brought up and have to be
taken out causing a break in the foun-
dation which is hard to repair.
Our rule is that no stone is to be put
on the road that does not pass through
the Jaws of the crusher, and that no clay
| or loan shall >be used as a bond. In the
same instances we have had to take up all
the stone putting the bed rock through
| the crusher. as we could not get salts
| factory job otherwise.
The amount of money that is being ex-
pended in the building of improved roads,
most certainly calls for special legisla-
ton for their preservation. The greatest
| destroyer of road, stone or earth, is the
narrow tired wagon with its aXles OF even
| length, the aveage width of tire is not
| over IA inches which, after a few
months use is rounded off to an inch or
| less All that the wagon will bear is
usually put on (if On an improved road
so we have four wedges, a little blunt, it
| is true, working away to loosen up or
grind the bond of the road, which done
| deeper they go working out larger stone,
/ and the persistence with which each
wagon follows in the track of the one
preceding is sickening to the eye of the
! road supervisor.
| Charlotte township had enacted by the
last Legislature bill to impose license
on all wagons in the city and township
with tires less than standard width,
which IS:
One horse wagon tire, inches wide,
spindle not over 1Ax7 inches
| Two horse wagon, tire 3 inches wide,
spindle not over 15sx9 inches
Three horse wagon, tire 4 inches wide,
spindle not Ger 1%x10 inches.
Four horse wagon, tire inches wide,
/ spingle not over 1Ax10 inches.
| The license is $1.50, $500, $500 and
| $500. Wagons now in use are exempt
until new tires are required This is not
what was wanted, but was the best to be
| had.
In constructing a road across a marsh
| some three years since, having put on a
| foot or more of earth, our wagons with
| 4-inch tires were going over nicely with
a load of IL yards of earth. a light sur
ny came along and much to our surprise
cut through and had to be helped out, on
| the same road team of small mules
were hauling wood with wagon with
well worn tires so cut up the road that
we had to shut them out.
The cost of repairs to streets and roads
| in a few years could be cut down from
| so per cent to rs per cent, in city, town
| and country, if the broad tired wagon
with short front axle could be substituted
for those now in use, and without any adj
| ditionaI cost to anyone.