The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-09-30
Some Good Roads Recon-

:
that State made the following state
ments, which apply with some force TO
our present condition ii North Carolina
| recommend that the next Legislature
give TO the voters Of Michigan the priyi-
leee TO say at the polls whether they
want 10 change the constitution so as to
permit OF State aid or not for perma-
nent intertown highways and should
they vote 10 allow State aid | would
advise adopting a system like tie Con-
nectlcut plan, which is the awarding
awards TO townships that build inter
town highways according to the specifi-
cations adopted by the State.
would like TO see the Legislature that
should convene next after such 4 vote hac
been given, make an appropriation or
$4,000, to be divided into 30 rewards, TO
be given to the first 30 townships which
should complete an intertown mile OF
permanent road built after the specifca-
tons furnished by a State engineer, when
accepted by him.
First, however, l recommend that the
next Legislature establish the office OF
State Engineer, he TO have a fair salary
and expenses, to hold schools of instruc-
ton, teaching how to build and repair
all kinds of roads and to hold one of
each year, at which all highway COM
mlssioners and pathmasters III each coun-
ty should attend and be paid for their
days attendance the same as they would
If working on the road and the cost 10
them TO get to the county seat or else
where where the engineer should hold
such school.
| would recommend that every highway
commissioner be obliged report to such
| state Engineer every year what the con-
oition Of the roads in mis- township IS,
how much money and statute labor has
been expended during the year, so that
1t may be possible to know just how
many miles Of public highway there is
IN the State, just what amount of money
IS expended in building ana repairing ana
many other things important to know
This would practically form a road in
jury office in the State and the State
Engineer would be able to convey - &
| information obtained that was good
from one county to ell other counties :
he would be able to tell any township
!, where the best gravel and stone was
| situated and what it would cost TO OBJ
| tain ii: he would be able to advise ab0u;
what 1t would cost to build and repair
| roads and bridges; he would be subject
him, and be paid by the State | ask
| every voter Of Michigan to carefully con-
slider this plan, and if he favors il write
| me and tell me 50, SO that / may be able
! to show the next Legislature thai it is
| desired by the people.
1t IS false economy to build road
| over steep grade rather than cut down
| or encircle the hills in order TO secure
| sn easy grade.
| 1t has been demonstrated that In
| country districts in Kentucky where ma
| cadamiZcd highways have been built the
! lands have increased in valun as much
as S1o Fer acre. This is conclusive evi-
dence that the burden OF building roads
! should not be borne alone by the agri-
| cultural classes, but is a strong argu-
! ment IN favor of municipal county and
| State aid.
| SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR THE DRAIN
| AGE OF OUR PUBLIC ROADS
Under the above heading each week
| will be inclded in this paper some prac-
| tical information for our road super
| visors and overscers, and for our farm
| els and others who are interested in bet
| tering the condition of the rCadways ir
| the counties of North Carolina. From
a recent publication of the L. s. Office
, of Road Inquiries We take the following:
| SURFACE DRAINAGE.
| The wearing surface of a road must
be in effect a roof that is, the section
| in the middle should be the highest
| part and the travelled roadway should b.
| made as impervious to water as possible
50 that it will flow freely and quickly
inf ba II ten al yciC 10
The best shape for the cross section OF
Il road has been found to be either 6
/ Hat elipse or one made Of two plane sur
| faces sloping uniformly from the mid
| die to the sides and joined in the center
| by a small circular curve. Either OF
| these sections may be used provided il
| is not too flat in the middle for good
| drainage or too steep at the cutters foI
+, safety. The stepness of the slope from
i the center to the sides should depenc
; upon the nature of the surface. being
! greater or less according o its rough
| ness or smoothness. This slope Cugn'
! to be greatest on earth roads. peThaI
| as much in some cases as one foot il
| twenty feet after the surface has beer
| thoroughly rolled or compacted by traffic
| This varies from about l in 20 TO I in q
! on a macadam road to l in 10 or / IN 81
| on the various classes of pavements and
! for asphalt sometimes as low as l in so
| It has been demonstrated that II
| country districts in Kentucky where ma
(; cadamized highways have been built
! the lands have increased in value as
| much IS SO per acre This is conclusive
| evidence that the burden of building
| roads should not be borne alone by the
agricultural classes, but IS strong ar
| gument in favor of municipal, county