Mexico weekly ledger., 1902-03-27
IMPROVEMENT OF HIGHWAYS.

To the Editor OF the Ledger
MEXICO, Mo, March l9-lf you
will kindly give me space in your cx-
cellent paper, we will give your read
ers further suggestions On a new plan
fer improving the highways. We
have been accosted, this week, by
several gentlemeh In the country and
Others in the city who say they can
begin to see more forsibly. as the frost
goes of the ground and the spring
rains render the roads impossible; the
force ofour argument for improving
the county highways and the streets
of Mexico And you know that it is
said that "MissourianS have to be
shown,n and the individual is indeed
behind who cannot see, with disgust,
the bottomless mudholes on the coun-
10y roads and the slush and filth OF
| the streets Of the city, that has long
been a disgrace to the people OF the
lefty and county,.
| We have some new features to pre-
sent to your readers for their con-
sideration and one, we think, deserv-
ing Of our most intelligent consldera-
tion. The greatest objection offered
to our suggestions, heretofore, was
the lack Of material, rock, for the
purpose Of macadamizing. Well, let
that argument 90 for what 1t is worth.
We have some other propositions to
offer, as we gather them from com
nonsense article written by Chas. RoI-
land Keys. He speaks of the good
roads in France and England and in
parts Of Europe which is the wonder
ment of all Americans. The same
material is used in some parts Of the
older states in this country where
rock and gravel can be easily obtained
at normal price. There are, how
ever, many places where practically
no suitable lodges Of durable rock are
| found.
Take for instance, many parts OF the
prairie country in the State of Missouri
and of your own county, it is largely
devoid of hard rock for road material.
And throughout its entire limits the
county roads, during certain portions
Of every year, are the very worst inn
aglnable. Every low place In the
roads, every hollow between hills, be-
comes a mire without bottom and
often impossible to vehicles or even to
HORSEBACK riders with safety. AS a |
chain is no stronger than its weakest
link, SO highway is no better than
its worst stretch, burnt gumbo.
Now when we come to examine into
the composition Of the mire, we find
that it is made up Of the stickiest of |
sticky muds. The mud adheres with |
tenacity of many pounds, to every
thing that 1t touches. This highly |
developed property which is technical
ly called Elasticity, is the very proper
ty that makes this mud the better
material for road metal. Tho worse
the mud the better the quality for
road metal. Says Mr.. Keys, it only
has to be simply and properly treated. |
The magic change is accomplished |
by thoroughly burning the mud. AS
many of the railroads in the central
west have, for years, been using this
gumbo or mud for ballast, its use
therefore has passed beyond the ex-
perimental stage. Mr.. Keys says, that
while burnt mud or gumbo was at the
start only intended to take the place
Of rock ballast, where rock could not
be cheaply obtained, its superiority
over stone was soon proven to be so
great that it is now used even where
there are good rock lodges. A brief
account or experiment Of its use by
the railroads has demonstrated be-
yond doubt its advantages for high
way road metal. The railroad handle
the clay and carry on all operations
connected with its burning by ma
chinery.
The burt gumbo, ready for use, can
be delivered on board the cars at a
cost of 25 or SOC cubic yard; when
burned by hand at convenient points
along the highways for road metal 1t
costs 10 or Is cents more, says Mr..
Keyes. In using it for macadam it
would be only necessary to shovel the
mud out of the roadway, burn it and
shovel 1t back. This practical and
sense writer tells US that for
matchmaking purposes on country
roads burnt gumbo is not so durable
as some Of the best grades OF rock. It'll
has many advantages TO offset this
as slight as it is. The
process of producing burt gumbo re-
quires practically no capital or great
skill TO carry it out. The most ordi-
nary labor and little common sense
on the part OF one person as overseer
can produce the best of results. The
first thing necessary IS TO prepare the
road bed by grading and crowning, be-
fore putting on the gumbo rock metal. |
A surface of burnt clay or s inches in
thickness is commonly sufficient for I
good results, or ten inches In particu- {
lar places, or where the traffic is i'm (
heavy. Ii
Mr.. Editor, would it not be a happy /
II we could induce the
County Court and the municipal au- /
thority OF the city Of Mexico TO look
intelllgently into the merits Of these
practical and reasonable suggestions?
Wouldn't there be a business sense
In the County Court and our city au-
thorities to spend little money in an
experiment OF this kindg The very
worst results imaginable could not be |
worse than the squandering Of the
peoples money for naught, that has
been going on for half a century. For
let us select for improve
ment the worst part Of the roads first
Since the worst stretches are often
caused By the very material that
makes the best grade Of road metal