The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1903-07-21
THE ROAD MACHINERY.
1t Has Been Put in Operation and Has Be-
gun Work Oh Road Which Needs
improvement.


bridge over Bush river, distance of
three miles, and the force with the
machinery has started at I.indsay's
bridge and will work to the city.
Supervisor Schumpert's decision to
work this road first and to make it a
test of the machinery's usefulness, was
wise. At certain seasons of the year
this road is one of the worst in the
whole county, at times altogether i'm
passable. 1t is one of the most impor-
tant roads in the county, being the di-
rect route for the trade from Saluda
which comes to Newberry. At times
last winter this trade was almost ell.
tirely cut off, and Newberry suffered
accordingly.
The machinery was carried to Lind
says bridge on Wednesday,, and on
Thursday morning work was begun.
The engine and crusher were carried to
point several hundred yards down the
river, to the right as the bridge is ap-
preached from Newberry. Here rock
is to be found in car loads and the
crusher was put to work. Most Of the
rock at this point is the "black iron"
rock-about as hard rock as can be
found anywhere. There was not the
least trouble in crushing, however, and
the large bin was filled, and the rock
dumped into the cars and carried out to
the road.
1t is very interesting to watch the
machinery at work. The three men
whom Col. w. A. Neel brought with
him from the company to put the ma
chinery to work seem to know every
detail of handling the intricate machin-
cry and of building roads. The traction
engine seems to obey even the slightest
wish of the engineer. When the point
where the rock was to be crushed was
reached the bin was pulled to the point
desired and the dump cars placed. On
the first attempt, in only a few
seconds, the engineer place the fly
wheel of his engine in line for the
crusher, ready for belt, and he mis-
judged the length Of the belt only a
few inches. Moving up about three or
four inches, he was ready for the belt
connecting his engine with the crusher.
1t was a task equal to lining shafting,
and with only two moves of the engine
on uneven ground it was accomplished.
When the rock is crushed it is carried
up into the bin on a belt. The rock
comes out of crusher in three sizes,
which are distributed into the three
sections of the bin. The first is about
the size of gravel, the second a little
larger, and the third about the size of a
mans fist.
The work of crushing the rock last
week was continued until late Friday
afternoon, when the crushed rock was
emptied into the dump cars and carried
to the road. A plow was hooked on to
the engine and section of the road
was plowed preparatory to receiving
the rock. When the road has been pre-
pared the rock is distributed and packed
; with the big roller. The bitches are
cleaned and the dirt thrown to the cen
tre with the scraper.
The machinery at present is being
, very successfully worked. TO a layman
! it appears that it's continued operation
: means great things for the county in
the matter of highway improvement.
In order that very successful results
may be attained and that the machinery
! may prove a paying investment to the
! county, it seems that there are two
! things which are necessary to be done,
and vitality necessary, and these will no
i doubt be done.
! In the first place, men must be put
| in charge of the machinery who under
| stand it's operation. The traction en-,
gine is very obedient machine wher
it is mastered. 1t works beautifully
under the control of the engineer from
the company. He turns it around in q
narrow road where it is hardly possible
to turn horse and buggy. He strad
dies bitches with it and runs through
heavily wooded land with three or foul
cars behind him. A single mistake O.
judgment at certain points would cos
, the county great deal more than the
amount necessary to secure an expert
\ enced man for year or two.
/ In the second place, successful ant
! rapid work can only be done when th'
machinery is put on one road and KEEP
there until that road is finished.
costs something to move the machiner,
asad it takes time. Some section Of tn
0ulnty must get the benefits first.
Supervisor Schumpert has dsplayc
e. saeSlent judgment in selecting tn
fiji H;t moad to be worked, and he is wis
in a9m tinuing the work to the cour
he, uSe. No doubt, he will work thi
road to the steel bridge, putting tn
VIII ole road to the Saluda line in first
clas S condition. Supervisor Schumper
has been on the ground since the ma
chin eay began operation, and under hi
pers Eolal supervision there is no doub
that the present successful operation