Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-26
OILED ROAD IN KENTUCKY.
Satisfactory Results Reported From
Recent Experiment.

Recent Experiment.
From the Lexington (Ky.) Herald.
The oiled road which a progressive county
administration taking advantage of a gen.
erous offer from the constructors. has In
troduced to the blue grass is an importa-
ton from the west. The method had Its
inception and the process has been per-
fected in California, other states looking
on with keen interest and, in experiments
Oil small scale. profiting.
While application of the western Idea to
macadamized roads Is not new, this ID the
pioneer trial in the limestone region and
or roads such as Fayette boasts. What,
therefore, has the appearance OF thor =
ough success means much to Kentucky and
the country.
After considerable expenses and prepara-
ton, machinery costing $500 having to be
bought, the Home Construction Company
undertook the experiment October To- Rag
land oil, obtained from the Licking Valley
OH and Gas Company. which appears 20
have the union of properties necessary to
the perfect road oil, was used. A mile and
a half on the reconstruction part of the
Newtown pike was treated beginning one
mile from the limits. A Whites oiler.
similar in many respects to a street Sprin-
kler, spread the crude oil. over which sand
was spread to a depth Of half inch.
Last week one of the big rollers of the
company was passed over 1t. In the time
intervening between laying and rolling. the
lighter oils had evapOrated and the sand
and penetrated limestone had set in an
asphalt coat, the effect of the roller being
still further to compress and smooth the
surface. Despite several disadvantages OF
which inability to heat the oil and the cool
season were chief the results are prob
ably all that could have been hoped for.
Waterproof, dustless and elastic. the road
has also been made more durable. This
IL OF foot trro Of f1A he. .,-xy
of which was incidental to the original use
of oil as dust-layer. has brought it to the
attention of the entire country. In the
west the first treatment of Oil is char Scd
to the construction account, and after that
the cost is much less than keeping a roa d
srrink1ed. After the third year it Is I'M
necessary to use. the Oil except for patch
Ing. and it is calculated that well-oiled
road will remain dustless and waterproof
for ten years or longer The saving In re-
pairing alone will be large, the added COM
fort being Incidental.
About 1000 gallons of oil and thousand
bushels OF sand were required on the mile
which furnishes the test. The oil cost
" cents per barrel. The road had been re-
constructed two years ago. and is a type Of
the nfty-tWo miles around Lexington which
the Home Construction Company is remak-
Ing. If the county finds 1t advisable to oil
all of the reconstructed pike the goal Of
perfection will have been closely ap-
preached.
w thO DoSiS VI d lille Inc Cost OF O3t1QG
the Newtown pike, exclusive of machinery,
was S244
In future work the OIL will be heated.
Ehis will give 1t greater penetrative power
warmer weather will be chosen. To re-
move any Inconvenience to travel only one
side of the pike will be oiled at a time. and
the sand will be spread Immediately. About
Tour days later this side will be in fit con-
citlon Tor travel, and the other may be
oiled Additional machinery also may
facilitate the work