Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1903-11-19
WANTS BRICK TRACK ROADS
Government Employe Says Thew
Make Ideal Roads.

Hon. Martin Dodge, director of the
bureau Of public road inquiries, advo-
tates the construction Of brick track
roads with convict labor, says the New
York Herald. In regard to these high
ways Mr.. Dodge says;
THE important features of brick
track roads are that they can be built
for a fraction Of the cost Of stone
road or street, while four to five times
the load can be hauled ON them with
the same team force, and they can
probably be maintained for one-tenth
of the repair expense. At the same
time they obvlate the formation of the
ruts, dust and mud due to the grinding
Of the. wagon wheels ON stone streets
earth roads
"If convict labor is properly employed
we can probably build these ideal
roads throughout the whole country in
n few years of time for tho present
needless expense we are now bearing
on account of our deplorable country
roads.
"An ideal road is the stone wheel
track between Albany and Schenecta-
dy, n. Y. In constant use for nearly
sixty years, with very little or no eX-
pense for repairs, It so far shows very
little wear. 1t Is probably the oldest
and most successful road in this coun-
try and now looks as II 1t might last
another century or two without mate
rial repair expense.
"Near the city of Buffalo on upward
of mile of brick track road construct
ed adjacent to stone roads built by the
state nearly four times the load can be
hauled with the same team force and
with comparatively little damage TO
the contents OF the loads, which are
largely composed of market produce
and fruit
"ln the brick track road is found n
means for obtaining all of the advan-
tages of the old stone track road at an
extremely low cost. This advantage is
made possible for nearly every part OF
this country on account of our abun-
dant clays, which are found Of suitable
quality in nearly every section.
"A strong feature in favor Of the
brick track road is the plan OF using
our convicts and vagrants In making
the brick and other materials and also
In constructing the roads, by which
means this country could In a few
/ tIt,,a hpRsA 10 In h..
world at less cost than the burden and
disadvantage which we are now endur-
ing because Of our present lack OF good
roads.
"lf long term convicts are employed
TO make brick and other road materials
and short term convlcts are employed
TO make the roads, as is recommended
| by the United States Office of public
road inquiries, the cost Of constructing
brick track ways for our country roads
should not exceed $500 or $1,000 per
mile and I'm many cases could be made
to average less than 5000 n mile, ex-
elusive of any necessary grading and
hauling of material Furthermore, IL
well made they should last for many
years.
"In recent article in the Review OF
Reviews the length OF the highways Of
the United States, outside of incorpo-
rated cities and villages, Is estimated
at 5000 600 miles At cost of CON
struction Of, say, $500 a mile brick
track roads for the entire country
would cost less than four times the
S6500O0,OO0 loss which 1t Is estimated
we are now sustaining each year on ne
count Of our bad roads.
"Gn other words, we are now paying
for the pleasure Of using our present
deplorable roads nm annual mud tax
which I'm less than four years would
build the finest and best roads In the
world throughout the entire country
and which would effect saving there
after over our present conditions OF
nearly 81 each year for every man, wo-
man aud child In this country, to say
nothing Of the pleasure, the satlsfac-
tlon and the moral benefits OF driving
over good, hard roads every day OF the
year instead Of through series OF
mudholes or n cloud Of dust
"The proper manner OF constructing
the brick track road will vary some
what In different localities, according
TO the soil and climatic conditions.
Where the subsoll is naturally drained
and frost does not usually penetrate
deeply a base OF two or three inches Of
concrete under the brick appears TO be
sufficient for ordinary roads. The bricks
are set on this concrete base.
"ln localities where the soil IL wet or
OF a clayey nature dralntlles should be
placed lengthwlse under each wheel
track, with suitable outlets, and where
the subsol Is very wet and the frost
penetrates deeply stone or other ballast
should be placed below the bricks,
with the dralntlle beneath the stone
ballast
"As nearly every form OF road Is Sc
rously damaged by the grinding action
Of the wagon wheels It Is at first dlns
cult TO realize that this will not be the
case with the brick track road, but
when we remember that the surface Of
the brick track Is nearly as even and
uniform as the top Of steel rail and
az It effectually obylates the washing
OF hillside roads II Is difficult TO con-
ceiye how any appreclable wear can
possibly take place even In years Of
ordinary use II properly constructed"
The Best Remedy Tor Group.