The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-08-14
FOR Good ROADS.
Commissioners Hear How They
Can Be Made of Macadam.
Formal Report of Committee is
Submitted.
NOTHING IN THE WAY.
Stone in Shawnee County is
Entirely Satisfactory.
Adoption of Kansas City Method
is Recommended.

has submitted a formal report to the
county commissioners recommending
that the West Sixth avenue road be
paved with macadam.
The report to the commissioners is as
follows:
Following the suggestion of your
board, the undersigned committee went
to Kansas City on Tuesday, August A.
1902 for the purpose of examining the
macadam roads in Kansas City, Mo-,
and in Jackson county outside the city.
Mr.. J. w. Hoover, of Kansas City,
very kindly furnished conveyance and
took the committee over various parts
of Kansas City and Jackson county
near the city where macadam ROADS
have been and are being constructed.
Mr. George 3. Kessler, secretary and
engineer OF the board of park commits
sioners of Kansas City also acconpa-
ried the committee a part CT sne way
and furnished it with valuable informa-
ton as to the method of construction
of the roads within the city
"a ~ood many miles of macadam or
gravel roads have been built in Kansas
City, some of which have been IN use
for long time and have had to bear a
heavy traffic. The fact that the city is
still building these roads shows that
they have been satisfactory. Some
slight changes have been made in the
manner of construction particularly in
the use of surfacing gravel. but the
present method of construction is sub
stantially the same as first used.
ITO the north of Independence avenue
near the bluffs, the committee saw a
road which is built upon made land and
macadamiZed only TO q deDth of about
five inches. This was put down only as
a temporary road 1t has, however, been
in use for about FIVE years. and. al
though repaired very little, it is still iii
good condition. The traffic over 1T is
not heavy, it being mostly used for
pleasure driving. 1t is made of crushed
limestone, surfaced with the screenings.
and thoroughly rolled
1.-The committee also drove over a
macadam road onTrOost avenue near the
southern limits of the city, which was
built by the county at least II years
ago, but is now within the city limits.
The hauling over this road must have
been heavy. as it is one of the main
roads into Kansas City. 1t has a heavy
grade and is not rounded in the center.
and the cutters have been neglected So
that it has washed somewhat at the
sides. The committee was informed
that very few repairs had been made
upon it. Notwithstanding this fact, the
road is still in good condition.
The methods employed by Kansas
City and Jackson county in building
macadam roads are SON ewhat different.
In each case the macadam, when fin
ished, is Is inches deep in the center.
In the city construction, there are alto
gether five courses, including two of
crushed limestone, one of limestone
screenings, one of coarse Holiday
gravel, and a final course of fine bank
gravel which are put on and thorough
ly rolled in the order named. In the
county work there are two courses of
crushed limestone and final course OF
limestone screenings. The city method
is much more expensive.
with reference to material available
for macadam roads in Shawnee county
the comm lttee submitted to Mr.. keSsler
a piece of limestone obtained from sur
face rock on Martins hill west of To-
peka. Mr.. Kessler gave it his opin-
ion that the stone shown him was as
good for building macadam roads as
any used by them on the roads in Kan
sas City.
1T is the conclusion of the committee
that there is nothing in the conditions
existing in Shawnee county as to soil
or material that will prevent building
durable and satisfactory macadam
roads, provided proper methods of con-
struction are adopted. This committee
in making its Investigations, had in
view particularly the construction of a
macadam road on West Sixth street 1t
seems probable that the heavy traffic
over that road from the brick plant may
subject it to a somewhat Severer test
than any of the roads which the COM
mittee examined; but, if the road is
carefully constructed, it should bear the
heavy hauling without damage.
In the opinion of the committee, sub
stantially the method used in construct
ing macadam roads in Jackson county
Missouri, as shown by the specifications
given above, should be adopted in this
county. In addition, however. the COM
mittee believe it to be of the greatest
Importance that at least the top course
OF lin eStone screenings should be we'll
watered before rolling. By this means
the fine dust and stone form a cement
which binds the layers of coarser stone
together and makes a smooth and hard
surface which cannot be obtained BY
dry rolling. Mr.. Kessler expressed the
opinion tnat flooding the screenings be-
tore rolling was necessity 1t is the
n mi
the most essential requirements in the
construction of macadam roads are the
following:
First-The foundation and the sew
thor oughly rolled with a roller weighing
at least ten tons. The stone should be
rolled until they will not creep in front
of the roller.
"second-At least the top course of
screenings must be thoroughly watered
before rolling
Third-There must be sufficient
crown to the road to shed water. and
the bitches must be so constructed as
to take care of the water.
In view of the large amount of traffic
passing over the Sixth street road which
Will be increased as soon as the brick
plant bridge is completed, and the fact
that this road will be main drive
way to Cages Park. the committee
earnestly recommend that the Sixth
street road be macadamfzed to q width
CT not less than rs feet. 1t is the belief
of the committee that it is economy to
build macadam roads well; that a few
extra collars spent in rolling and sur
facing will save many dollars in re-
pairs. If the right system of construc-
ton is adopted there is no reason WHY
shawnee county cannot have as good
roads as exist anywhere in the coun-
try. (Signed),
20. E. WALKER.
"A. H. BATES
ROBERT STONE
"A. REINISCH
III. w. McAFEE
GEORGE H. WHITCOMB.
JOHN. SUTHERIN."
o. E. Walker said in discussing ma
madam roads: