Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1904-09-10
HAULING COTTON NEAR JACKSON.


the way of improving the county roads
until the winter of 1903, 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 it
came. All wanted good roads, and aft
er n lengthy discussion IL farmer rose
and In drawing accents said
"'Mr. Chairman, I've got little farm
and sawmill out on 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. MIR. Fletcher, 1
bsnght some groceries from you this
nio1,th' (pauscl; yes, So worth. for l
carried them out on my back, but II l
had a good road 1t would have been
S2a, nm sure
This plain statement brought the
question home. A motion prevailed to
instruct our representative to draft
hill authorizing n bond issue of $780,
GOO. bearing 1 per cent interest and eX-
tending over n period of thirty years,
and work on the roads was begun In
June. 1903. We We're 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-
gincs and especially constructed wag
haI A,-n
yards and capable OF being dumped at
will. So that any portion or all Of the
load may he placed at any desired
point. we will be able to work much
faster.
"The present condition Of our roads
IL vastly different from that prevailing
at the same time last year. Then 1t
was not possible to draw load over
some Of them of 800 pounds, while now
the wagons haul ten bales Of cotton
weighing on an average 0.00O pounds.
A man delivers his lumber In the mar
ket at all seasons of the year, and with
these and many other advantages, such
M the telephone, beautiful water, sun
shine, churches and schools, our coun-
y
experiencing results that surpass their
fOndest hopes, and everybody praises
the good roads.
"This work is done under the direc-
tion OF Il chief engineer and five good
roads trustees, known as the Madison
county good roads trustees, to whom
Is given all authority regarding roads
Of the county to be improved. These
roads cost from $500 TO $1,000 per
mike. 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
renter after rolling complete six inches
md four inches on the sides. A steam
roller is used, and the foundation Is
thoroughly prepared when the material
is spread In 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 IL applied after
the material Is spread.
I'VE are marking the distance on
the roads with neat cast iron mile
boards, with raised letters, end around
each signboard material Is placed for
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, ex-
cept that instead of one pile two piles
of material for repairs are used.
Thus we serve double purpose.
nnd the material necessary for the pro-
verbal stitch in time Is always at
hand, and by employing a man and
cart to cover given number OF miles
of road the repairs can be kept up con-
stantly with minimum expense"