The Kemper herald. (Scooba, Miss.) 1875-1908, 1905-01-19
oiled Road in Kentucky.


4 - y gressive county administra.
& O ton, taking advantage OF
4 - + a generous offer from the
6oN constructors, has introduced
10 the blue grass is an importation IRON
the west. The method had its incep
hion and the process has been perfected
in California, other States looking Oh
with keen interest and IN experiments
OH small scale, profiting.
&, While application of the western ldes
to macadamized roads Is not new, TINS
lis the pioneer trial in the limestone
region and on roads such as fayet'e
boasts. What, therefore, has the ap
pearance of thorough success nieah'
much to Kentucky and the country.
After considerable expenses ano
preparation, machinery costing seo'
having to be bought, the Home Con
struction Company undertook the ex
pertinent October Is. Ragland oil, Cd
tanned from the Licking Valley Oh q
Gas Company, which appears to nave
the union of properties necessary te
the perfect road oil, was used. A mlit
and half on the reconstruction par
of the Newtown pike was treated, pc
ginning one mile from the limits. 4
Whites oiler, similar in many Respects
to street sprinkler, spread the cruat
oil, over which sand was spread TO
depth of half an inch.
Last week one of the big rollers o.
the company was passed over it. Ii
the time intervening between laying
and rolling, the lighter oils had evap
grated and the sand and penetrated
limestone had set to an asphalt coat
the effect of the roller being still fur
ther to compress and smooth the sur
face. Despite several disadvantages
of which inability TO heat the oil ant
the cool season were chief, the results
are probably all that could be hopeo
for. Waterproof, dustless and eiasuc
the road has also been made more dur
able. This last feature of the process
the discovery of which was lncldenta
to the original use of oil as dust
LAYER, has brought it to the attentlot
of the entire country. In the west tilS
first treatment of oil is charged to@tiit
construction account, and after fh;t
the cost is much less than keeping .
road sprinkled. After the third yeAl
if is unnecessary TO use the oil except
for patching, and it is calculated thal
a well-oiled road will remain dustiesS
and waterproof for ten years or longer
The saving in repairing alone will bt
large. the added comfort being Incl
dental.
About 1000 gallons of oil and a thou
sand bushels of sand were required OF
the mile which furnishes the test. The
oil cost 62 cents per barrel. The roac
had been reconstructed two years ago
and is type of the fifty-two niles
around Lexington which the Hone
Construction Company is remark n;5
II the county finds it advisable to q
all of the reconstructed pike the 60
of perfection will have been clos y
approached.
On the basis of mile the cost o
oiling the Newtown pike, exclusive
of machinery, was $244.
In future work the oil will be heated
This will give it greater penetrativt
power. Warmer weather will be chos
en-. To remove any inconvenience tt
travel only one side of the pike will bt
oiled at time, and the sand will be
spread immediately About four days
later this side will be in fit condition
for travel, and the other may be oiled
Additional machinery also may facili.
tate the work.-Lexington (Ky.) Her
aid ra.