The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1902-07-10
some STREET. DUST
Turn t Int, Pavement.
A SCIENTIFIC VIEW.

a OVA6N 94S4E vl6W.
Written for;The Commonwealth by a..seienti6e
] Friend.
! To the onward march OF science
Easass hss yielded. For centuries the
rival beauties maintained an equal
contest, but now step by step science
has won pre-eminence. She spoke and
time and space were no more. At her
command the earth gives up her dead
| and relics OF long forgotten past ap-
pear, to tell the story of prehistoric
time. One wave Of her magic wand
The very stones cry out "Hoeana to
God in the highest |" for fossil on their
cold hearts is written in tinmistakable
language in the history of the glorious
creation. No more can Byron sing,
'eThy control stops with the sea.
Science has, also, ransacked the secrets
OF her breast. The voice of man is
heard above the loudest roar of the
storm in the oceans depths, and soon
wireless telegraphy will carry his mes
sages to any point upon her surface !;
while the day is not far distant when
man shall speak aud his voice shall be
heard over the whole face OF the earth.
Nay, more, that voice shall be treas
ured up and handed down as a far
moro representative monument than
the Egyptian mummy.
But in nothing has science made
more progress than in the develop
ment of the ease and comfort of mod
ern travel. Apart from the conven-
fences open to all the public alike.
others haye been provided of which
each can avail himself as an individ-
nal. In the large cities the wheel,
automobile aad pneumatic tired bug
gles have come to be almost neces.
sity. Indeed some even prophesy
that in the near future horses will be
)utlawed. But whether this is true OF
not, it has become apparent to all that
with the light and fraii modern vehicle
must come great improvement in
the conditions of the thoroughfares
This improvement is most seen in the
substitution OF the asphalt pavement for
the cobble stones and them macadamiz-
ID drives for the corduroy of former
times. In many states and
localities the m d m / z d
road is almost the only one
known and in such places driving is
truly delightful. But in our Southern
states especially along the coast and
IN sandy regions--we can not be said
to have any roads. In fact from the
present state OF our finances it is al
most impossible for us to have them
that is if we have to wait for the mac
sdam. But is there no other road
modern thought can give us7
As matters now stand, it is plainl,
impossible to have the macadam. The
best material is basalt ; ground up in 9
rock crusher. Pieces OF uniform 81 ze
about three inches in diameter-are
then put down. Upon these are spre ad
pieces of smaller size and so On, unit
we come to dust of the same material
Then the whole is rolled and we have
i fine drive. Soon the action of tht
weather causes the basalt to cement
md such road WI! last for years and
years without any appreciable wear
The next best thing to basalt is lime
stone. Besides these two there are nj
other kinds OF stone / know OF thai
combine hardness and the property o
cementing to sufficient degree K
make them of advantage for roadbuild'
ing. Here, we should have to bring
these from a great distance and the
expense would be too great. So In ths
present state of our finance it woult
be impossible for us to have them
But the splendid achievements OF mod
ern thought and industry teach US no
! to halt at this obstacle but to find som
other way. Why should we be behfn'
our Northern brethren? Why no
! have our ssGood Roads Conventions? :?
Shall we laboriously toll along ou
+ roads knee-deep in sand and dust Will
, the versatile Yankee speeds over hi
beautiful drive?
: Ye patriotic North Carolinians, doe
, 1t not make your blood boil to plo'
| through these sand bars Sand bars hu
deep in our streets! Where are you
J, chemists and phys;ciste and othe
VI scientific men. Are you going to K
d it he said that North Carolina Is
;. drag to the onward march OF clYiliz'
r ton, science and industry? Whel
j. are your universities and schools
= What are they for? Can none OF u
9 brilliant youth your colleges turn ou
il can none find or prepare some chen
) ical compound that can be mixed wit
I. this sandf This, / fancy, Is not or
b whit Inferior to the dust OF our Nortl
= ern cities. Up there they have mao
- .o,,, ,,<,,,,,d fr No va theirs with Wh