The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1902-04-09


OF ElkiDs, w. Va. 1t appears in ttSAn@N
our columns by special permits
sion, and tho accompanying cuts ~
are used as illustrations of the
description gwen Of the road. e.
which will be found helpful to q
better understanding of the
writer's meaning. Readers who are inter
BILE to study the article, as 1t is adapted to
is not theoretical.
While enjoying a vacation a few years
ago, the writer was for a short time en-
ployed as Supervisor of Public Roads
for Warren Co., N. O.. A road law
specially enacted for the county had
abolished entirely the old plan of "call.
ing out the hands" to do free work on
the roads, substituting therefor a tax on
small, netting not quite $4,000 per an
mum during the two years of my service.
There were about 800 miles of roads to
be cared for in q territory Of about 500
so. miles. or this mileage q consider
able percentage, Of course, was not much
used. or the main roads, some. parts,
lying on sandy or gravelly surface, were
never very bad. A large part of these
roads, however, lay on a surface which
"oo OahoSA "aOtty SohhPocOo VI Sho ~
or yellow, or of clay covered with a thin
layer of light sandy loan which when
not drained was easily cut through or
washed of, exposing the clay.
These parts Of the roads in winter and
in wet weather generally became un-
speakably bad, the clay cutting up to q
depth Of from 1 to 2 feet, and some
stretches of road becoming wholly inn
passable.
The very limited money available for
road work led to a careful study Of the
conditions Of the case, with the follow.
ing results
1t was observed that many parts OF the
roads which were always good had q
surface covering Of sane or gravel, often
very thin, covering clays, red or yellow
beneath. Careful examination OF the
thickness and nature Of this covering
and it's relation to the underlying clay
disclosed several interesting N impor
tant facts.
sand, gravel or sandy loan was Otter
very thin, on sections Of o that were
hardly ever cut up or in bad order. In
some cases, in which there was ne
noticeable deterioration Of the roadway
in seasons that were quite u~nfavorable
h sandy covering was not over an incl
thick over q yellow n rather porous
clay. 1t was also noted that an ordinar.
sandy loan, or "soil," as it was com
monty called, often made as good
covering as any other-the varying fine
ness of its materials causing a close
packing. This appeared to make i
su' to q fine sand Of uniform grain
w as more apt to cut up when dry
parts Of the roadway had alter
ions of denuded clay and o
,ravel surface, while others il
lh.z Ie clay was moro generally ex
poseC, had sand, OF gravel, or sandy soil
nearby. 1t was determined to try tn,
plan Of shaping up the clayey parts o
the roads into a good surface, either b.
lsnd or machine, and then covering tn
'8y with the best materials pro
cure Ole, by the use Of wheel scrapers
This plan proved signally successful.
Parts Of the roadway thus repaired
which had been for years notoriousl.
bad,> and almost impossible during
winter and wet seasons, nave been 81
entirely changed in character that a team
may be driven over them at a trot an.
day in the year. The material, whel
properly selected and applied, has com
pacted into a firm, hard surface, which
sheds water freely and rapidly, is dr.,
soon after ~rainfalls, and is scarcely eve
cut to any appreciable depth, and Otter
hardly marked by the passage Of vehicle
even Wnen neaVlly lOaueu.
The writer has recently visited and in
spected some points at which this worl
was done four or five years ago, an
found them still in admirable order
while he is assured by those in a posi-
ton to know that only a very tritlinl
amour of money has been expended OF
them in the interval of time mentioned
The results have been surprising even tt
the writer, although he hoped much fol
the work. or the estimate placed OF /
by citizens generally, the accompanying
letters from an ex' county commissions
who has always taken a deep interes
putable physician, who has frequent-oc
Casion to pass to and fro over the work,
will testify:
WARRENToN, N. O, Nov. 81, 1901.
I am thoroughly convinced after five
or six years observation Of the red hills
graveled under your direction while
Superintendent of Roads of Warren
county that it is by far the best and
cheapest method that can be adopted
with a limited amount Of money. The
hills on which you had gravel placed
five or six years ago are now as good as
or better than when the work was first
done. and in many cases are now the
best part Of the road.
WARRENToN, N. c.. Nov. is, 1900
Your road work still remains in almost
as good condition as when first done and
in the meantime has required very little
repair. Only once has 1t been necessary
to fill in q few ruts and breaks or wash
outs on the side of the roadbed. l have
often blessed you when driving at a
brisk gait instead of Juggling through
the mud, a foot deep, at a snail's pace.
The same system, l am glad to say, has
been used at several points in the county,
very much to the benefit Of the roads
and comfort Of the travelling public. The
cost is a mere trife compared with the
benefits derived, and when the gravel is
obtainable 1t is the cheapest and best
road for the expenditure.
ROADWAY CROSS SECTIONS AND MODE OF
COVERING.
In Fig. 1, the lower line shows the
shape which was given to the original
clay roadbed. The rise in the center is
made as light as will secure drainage, SO
that the greater rise necessarily given to
, the covering will. not cause 1t to wash
c. i heavy rains.
covering Is put on to a depth of
to 5 ms, when packed; of fairly
n thickness, for q width of about
.ence tapering out to nothing in
&c !. more though sometimes under