The suburban citizen., 1901-09-28

gineer;
The reflex influence of the bicycle
and the automobile has finally created
n public sentiment that is crystalliz-
ing into betterment of the public
highways to an extent that is most
gratifying to the good roads enthusi-
asst. Many States which have failed
to make any appropriation for the inn
provement of roads in the past year
yielded to the public demand and
made for them liberal appropria-
tions. The good example Of Massa-
chusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey,
New York and other States is bearing
fruit. In the aggregate, including the
small appropriation made by the Gov
ernment, millions of dollars have
been set aside for the betterment of
the country roads during this year.
Canada is by no means a laggard,
but rather well in the lead when all
things are considered for she has ap-
propriated S1,00O,000 to be expended
upon the Improvement Of the high.
ways during the season.
The good roads train which has
been touring the South during the last
three months, was made up at Chi.
cago through the cooperation of the
National Association of Good Roads,
the Illinois Central Railroad and sew
eral manufacturers OF road-making
machinery. The train started from
Chicago on April 20, equipped with
eight carloads Of the best and most
important roadmaking machinery, ex-
pert operators, rOadmakers and en-
gineers, arriving in New Orleans on
April %.
The following week an object les
son road about two miles in length
was built in the suburbs Of New Or
leans, over low plain, formerly sub
ject to overflow. 1t was desirable to
raise the roadbed higher than usual
to get above the action of the water,
which softens the surface Of the road
80 rapidly; therefore, earth handling
machinery was used to advantage
The New Era grader, propelled by
twelve animals, was first put upon
the work, and earth was transferred
from the sides to the centre, at the
rate of four cubic yards per minute.
Within the short space of two days
the undisturbed earth was trans
formed into a smoothly finished road
way, over which automobiles could
pass with perfect ease.
During the week a State convention
assembled for two days in pursuance
OF a proclamation issued by the Gov
ernor Of Louisiana Every parish Of
the State was well represented, there
being about one thousand delegates
in attendance. AS a result of this
convention a permanent State organ
ization was formed, which will oper-
ate in cooperation with the national
association, to carry on the work al
ready so well begun.
On the first of May the train left
New Orleans for Natchez, Mics,
where 1t remained week building
another object lesson road and hold
ing a district convention for two days,
at the close Of which a permanent or
ganization was formed for carrying
on the work in that vicinity, and for
the purpose Of cooperating with the
State association, afterward formed
at Jackson, Miss, and the national as
sociation, formed last November at
Chicago. We had here the hearty
cooperation of the city and the county
authorities, the object lesson road be-
ing built partly within and partly
without the city OF Natchez.
Our next stand was at Greenvile,
Miss, where we arrived on May 10.
This is in the midst Of the famous
YazOo Delta. The soil is an alluvial
deposit, subject to overflow and in
undation. A portion of this soil is
known as "buckshot land" and is ex-
ceedingly difficult to handle and more
difficult to retain in the form Of a
smooth roadbed. 1t was doubted
whether the earth-handllng machinery
so successful in other soils would be
able to handle this peculiar buckshot
lOILudllOut Dub our GnOIl3 were
crowned with success, and we left
them an object lesson of great value,
in the form OF smooth, well rounded
roadbeds, raised well above the water
level. We also had a very successful
two-day convention, which termin-
ated with the organization Of a per-
manent association for the improve
ment Of highways,
1 left the train temporarily at this
point, and the next stand was made
at Granada and another at McComb
City, and from McComb they went to
Cambridge, after which the great con-
vention was held at Jackson, Miss,
where an object lesson road was built,
as at each Of the other places. The
State convention was probably the
largest and most successful Of any
road convention ever assembled in
America and resulted in a permanent
organization for the entire State.
From Jackson, Miss, the train went
to jackson, Tenn. where a similar
program was carried out The next