Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1903-07-09

IN OFdef 10 Convince Every One Inat
it is MI Right-Some of the Details
of Construction Witnessed on Re-
cent Visit There by New Dominion
Man.
All who have any interest in roads
should go to the west side OF the
river. and see the section of model
road now completed and see the
actual operation Of making the road.
A better object lesson cannot be
found any where in the United States
than can be seen right here almost
in sight of your home. The whole
process of construction from grading
and rolling the road bed to top
dressing, sprinkling and rolling the
completed stone road can be seen by
any who desire to visit the place,
Just at the inter section Of the Fair
mont and Granville roads.
After reducing the grades on the
roadway to per cent. and less, and
widening the roadbed, six inch
deep section, II feet wide is scraped
ont in the middle Of the roadway,
with shoulders on each side to sup
port the stone layers. These Shout
ders take the place of eurbstone.
The bottom of the bed is rolled
smooth and solid Then layer OF
coarsely broken stone is deposited
upon it. A coating Of finely pulyer
lied stone screenings is spread upon
this, and it is rolled with the heavy
steam roller
Next layer Of stones broken to
the size of one and one half inches
and smaller is evenly deposited upon
the first layer. This is also rolled,
and upon it another thin layer OF
screenings is spread. This is wet
and then thoroughly rolled, making
a smooth, hard, compact, and gently
curving surface.
The first deposit of stone is rolled
dry, because water would pass
through and wet the subsoil BY
the time the stone road is completed,
it is impervious to water. Rainfall
flows off much as it would off brick
pavement.
Limestone is being used for this
road improvement. 1t is qua.ried
and crushed at Sturgisson up the NJ.
d X. road. 1t is very good road
material, but Is costly on account of
transportation up Keck's hill on the
west side.
The completed section Of road on
the west side is smooth as shale
road. This is a great contrast with
the old method of spreading coarsely
broken stone ON the roads and watt
ing for the teams to wear it down
smooth.
A short section of the road ad
joining the model road has been
treated in the old way and already
has ruts cut mi by teams passing
over. This will be left as an object
lesson to the visitors Saturday
BY the modern method the stone
screenings layer on top, wet and
rolled, form a cemented surface,
which does not cut into ruts like the
loose stones.
The completed stone Gaping
averages eight inches in thickness
and fifteen feet wide, which gives
room plenty for teams TO pass each
other. Side drains are graded out,
so that all surface water is carried
away and cannot injure the founda-
ton of the road.
Last fall load of hard stone big
as a man wants to handle was
dumped in bad place on the eastern
slope of Keck's hill not more than a
hundred yards from the present road
improvements. This stone was never
broken but still lies in a heap in the
middle of the road The contrast
between this and the section of
model road is one that teaches a
forceful lesson IN roadmaking by
useless methods, and useful methods.
By the time people have used a
mile of stone roud through one win
ter, they will wait it in many other
sections of the county.
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