Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1904-12-15
IN FAVOR OF GOOD ROADS
City Engineer Reynolds Givos
Good Suggestions.

We fluid that when tho government
adopts u road system. there Is merit
in that system, so the adoption of
these methods should, where praotica.
BILE, be taken up by city and county
boards for the purpose Of making and
maintaining good streets and roads.
In order to have these IL means con-
siderable expenditure to build thom
in the first place, but TO maintain a
good road, meaning one properly
built, Is a small item compared with
the present system Of annual repair
ing, which Is necessary under the
present condition of the roads in our
county, and especially the streets
within the city OF Grants Pass Ii Is
easy TO find fault, but to prescribe
the proper remedy is a more difficult
matter. IL Is the purpose OF this
article to offer some suggestions
which we hope may be OF benefit to
the public and tend to hasten the time
when we may enjoy tho pleasures OF
having good streets and roads. We
have within three miles of our city
an abundance Of stone, such as the
dia- basic formation commonly called
traprook, which II crushed and
uniformly spread over the surface,
then rolled with the proper machine,
would make first-class macadam.
But first In order do TO this, II is
necessary to have the proper ma
chinery, consisting Of a rock crusher,
and a steam roller. The approximate
cost of the roller would bo, according
to the kind and size, for n Eve ton
rollor about 1880 and larger sizes up
to 10 ton $4,000, and tho rock
orusher at about 5000. These ma.
chimes arc so arranged that the trac-
tion clutch may be thrown out Of gear
on the rollor and the same used to run
tho crusher thus making the expense
small.
II is IA fact that under favorable
conditions, similar to those existing
in this vicinity, street 45 feet In
width can bo maoadamized at less
than a.. 10 por linear foot. This Is a
small cost when we consider the per-
manenry Of the work and the small
cost necessary to maintain good con-
ditiona Usually a defect occurs
and is 10 slight that at first IL Is
hnnoticeable, but each day 1t DO.
comes worse and finally there is a big
mud hole, and In the ordinary man
ner of repairing load of gravel OF
othor material IL dumped into IL and
which makes two or three mud holes
out Of tho one. II defect occurs in
macadnm. il Is usually slight, and II
attended to at once is cheaply repaired
by simply digging out hole where
the depression occurs and hllinp
crushed rock rammed to the same
compactness Of the surrounding road,
then place the surface material taken
out over tho mended portion, fally
spreading in smooth manner. In
this way it Is economy to have th'
best. As 1t Ia at present, we ar,
compelled TO haul ON dirt, then sc
soon as tine rainy season begins II II
necessary TO sorape that same dirt NJ
m mud. and haul II away. Annually
repeating this process, will In few
years, cost the same amount for Ger
tain portion that nacadam woult
have cost and II your road is IN th'
same condition as when you began.
During the past year it has beef
necessary TO look after bridges ant
drainage in Grants Pass and SON,
good, permanent work has been dom
in the way Of concrete abutments,
concrete arch, concrete drain. sewe
, aud other much needed repairs. Tbes
have been not only we'll done. bat at
small cost as will bo shown in tn
sreet superintendent annual report
This being done, we can see no reasol
why. during tho coming year, tina
the matter Of making good street
and extending the sewer system
4 should not have proper attention an'
secure permanent improvement
| Respectfully yours,
II. |. Reynolds. O. Il.