The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-09-24
CHATHAM ROADS
The FINEST
IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY
SAYS w. L. SPOON, A GOVERNMENT
ROAD INSPECTOR.

Reached Savannah Yesterday Morn
ing and WINS Taken over the
County Roads by Several of the
County OHicers-Says Conditions
Here Are IdeaI-ROads Hard ana
smooth and Have WithstOOd Test
of Heavy Traffic and Changes i'm
weather.
That Chatham county has roads that
will compare favorably with the finest
roads in the United States is the opin-
ion of Mr.. w. l.. Spoon, a road ex-
pert.
Mr.. Spoon is in the employ of the
government and is going from place
to place inspecting roads, and the ma
terial used on them, for the purpose
of tabulating a report which will cover
the entire road system of the coun-
try.
morning from Jacksonville and was
taken in hand by the County Com
missioners and shown over the roads
in Chatham county. In an automobile
the party ran over the Augusta road,
the Louisville road, Bull street and
Wylly avenue, and Waters road,
thence to Isle of Hope. A trip was
then made over LaRoche avenue and
thence to Thunderbolt, via Estill ave-
nue.. After a short stop at the Yacht
Club the return to the city was made
over Moore avenue.
Expert Made Chemical Tests.
AS a result of his observations and
after making chemical tests of the
road material, Mr.. Spoon stated there
are few, if any, roads in the country
that will compare with Chathams 5.
Nothing but praise was heard of the
road conditions in this county, and his
report is certain to highly commend
the roads in this section. In discuss
ing the matter he said:
II have made an extended study of
roads, and road materials, and though
1 have visited many sections of the
country there are few, if any, that
have roads of as high a standard as
those of this county. On this trip 1
have made inspection in the Yazoo
Valley of Mississippi, in Dallas coun-
ty, Alabama, and in Florida 1 came
here for the purpose of investigating
the gravel used here as to its fitnses to
be used on the proposed road from
Jacksonville to the Beach, a big project
that is to be undertaken in Florida.
Have Excellent Roads.
I'm company with some of the Sa-
vannah county officers, l travelled over
at least forty miles of roads, and I
can say without hesitation they were
among the best roads have ever seen.
Though no recent improvements have
been made on several of them, and
there was no preparation for me, 1
found nearly every road in perfect
condition.
"A study of the chemical compost
ton of the gravel used shows that it
is ideal. 1t is practically impervious
and make a road that will be as serv-
ceable as the solid rock, and with
none of the drawbacks. L am told that
some of the roads have stood the test
of changing seasons, and of heavy
traffic for eight years. and that they
are in such excellent condition speaks
high for the quality of gravel used.
Examined Gravel Pits.
II was taken out to one of the gravel
pits from which the material is taken
that is used for the roads, and 1 was
greatly pleased with the conditions that
found there. While / did not have
time on this trip to examine these pits
carefully, yet a cursory examination
showed me tnaI tney were among the
best. 1 shall return later in the year
| to make a more complete investigation
for the purpose of making as full re-
port as possible on the Chatham coun-
| ty roads.
ITO go into the minute details would
| be uninteresting, but | do say that in
serviceability, smoothness, hardness,
| imperViousness of material, and in fact
| In almost every respect. the roads are
| among the best 1 have ever seen.
am delighted with my trip to this sec
| ton and am certain to return for the
purpose of getting complete details
concerning your roads"
Mr.. Spoon left last night for his
| home in North Carolina. After few
| days stay there he will go to Wash
ington. and shortly afterwards will
again start out on an inspection trip
| TO other points in the South. The re-
port of the roadways of the United
States will be issued early next year.