Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1904-10-12

the way of improving the county roadi
until the winter OF 1908. when the i'm
passable mud locked in the farmers
and stopped all trade, a mass meeting
was held, and those who could get to II
came. All wanted good roads, and aft
or a lengthy discussion farmer rose
and in drawing accents said: 80
"'Mr. Chairman. I've got little farm
| and sawmill out OH the Poplar Corner
road, Just little over two miles from
town. and If could climb up on hard
road with my truck and what lumber
have sawed could clear enough in
one day to pay my tax on that road,
but haven't got it, And, turning to a
merchant, he said, Mr.. Fletcher, l
bought some groceries from you this
month pause; yes, IS worth. for !
carried them out on my back, but If /
had a good road 1t would have been
$25. am sure
"This plain statement brought the
question home. a motion prevailed to
instruct our representative to draft a
bill authorizing bond issue Of $780,
600, bearing 4 per cent interest and ex-
tending over period OF thirty years,
and work OH the roads was begun In
June. 1903. We were only able to com
plete eight miles Of road during the
season. but as arrangements have been
made for hauling this material from
the cars to the road with traction en-
glnes and especially constructed wag-
ons or cars. each holding five cubic
yards and capable Of being dumped at
will, so that any portion or all Of the
load may be placed at any desired
point we will be able to work much
faster.
"The present condition Of our roads
IN vastly different from that prevailing
at the same time last year. Then 1t
was not possible to draw load over
some Of them Of 500 pounds, while now
the wagons haul ten bales of cotton
weighing on an average 5000 pounds.
A man delivers his lumber in the mar
ket at all seasons Of the year. and with
these and many other advantages, such
as the telephone, beautiful water, sun
shine, churches and schools, our coun-
ty and the community Of Jackson are
experiencing results that surpass their
fondest hopes, and everybody praises
the good roads.
"Thls work Is done under the direc-
ton of chief engineer and five good
roads trustees, known as the Madison
county good roads trustees, to whom
10 given all authority regarding roads
OF the county to be improved. These
roads cost from $500 to $1,000 per
mile. according to the nature OF the
grading and the distance the material
Is hauled. the width Of gravel being
twelve feet and the thickness at the
center after rolling complete six inches
and four inches on the sides. A steam
roller Is used, and the foundation ID
thoroughly prepared when the material
Is spread i'm thin layers and thorough
ly rolled. being wet while on the cars
and before loading into the wagons,
which adds greatly to the packing OF
the material when placed on the road
and without wetting the foundations,
as Is done when water Is applied after
the material IL spread.
ave are marking the distance on
the roads with neat cast iron mile
boards. with raised letters, and around
each slgnbOar1 material is placed fol-
repairs. the half miles being Indicated
with the post. around which material
for repairs is also placed, and In the
same way the quarters are marked. eI-
cept that instead Of one pile two piles
Of material for repairs are used.
"Thus we serve Il double purpose. |
and the material necessary for the pro
verbal stitch In time Is always at
band, and by employing a man and a
cart to cover given number Of miles
Of road the repairs can be kept up con-
stantly with minimum expense"
End OF the Came.