The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1905-04-04
CARE OF STATE ROADS.
SOME SUGGESTIONS FROM THE
COMMISSIONER.

Mentions April Is as Date for Resump-
fIon of Contract wOrk-PraIse for
SeIectmen Who Have Kept High
ways in Repair.
Hartford, April 3.-State Highway
Commissioner Macdonald has just sent
out to selectmen all over the state three
statements One relates to the care OF
Macadam, another is In regard to the
grading and the third is about the open
Ing work of the season. The commits
sioner urges that the roads be looked
after promptly, with the idea, though
not so expressed, that stitch in time
saves nine.
A mistaken idea occurs on the part
of many people that heavy frost fol-
lowed by contained snow has a ten
dency to protect the Macadam system.
To a certain extent this is theoretical
ly true, but looked at from a practical
standpoint, and from an experimental
knowledge in dealing with this ques-
ton, another force is at work. 1t is
not conditions on the top of Macadam,
it is those underneath, for upon all
subgrades of heavy loan or clay the
tendency is to lift up the qualification
of Macadam in its many courses and
hold it suspended until the weather
moderates, practically putting bridge
over the subgrade. Immediately on the
frost leaving the ground the breaking
down of the road occurs, which has a
tendency to destroy the bond and break
up the whole formation. This result is
not found UPON roads that overlie a
gravel or sand subgrade. 1t is chiefly
found where loan is the attractive
resident for moisture. and wet
foundation invites frost.
If your Macadam road is broken up
badly 1t will be necessary to apply
screenings and introduce rolling suf-
ficient to compact the road and bring
1t into a firm and unyielding condition
suitable for the travel it will have to
. sustain later on. If the stones of the
top course of the Macadam construc-
ton are bare no screenings are neces-
sary, but an application of splinters or
chips should be put upon the road just
as soon as possible.
It would not be wise to defer the re-
pair of a Macadam road until the
weather gets hot and dry, 1t is prac-
ticaIly useless to undertake to repair
any roads when we get into the grow
ing season. The proper time to fix a
Macadam road is just when it can be
done at the least possible expense and
yield the greatest return for the time
and money expended. 1t is now the
proper time and it would be wise to
take the matter up Immediately and
thereby remove the possibility of a
larger expense later on.
In his letter on the opening of work,
the commissioner suggests getting into
active operation in regard to all the
contracts that were let throughout the
State last year and were not COM
pleted at the time for closing down
State work. He says that he shall
name April Is as the day to commence
active operation for the entering upon
by contractors of all work, remaining
unfinished from last year.
The commissioner compliments the
Selectmen generally on the care shown
in keepink up the roads and says in his
third letter: .....l..... ...'.
1t has been with great satisfaction
and extreme pride when have been
asked the question. How do the
towns take care of their roads after they
have been constructed, do they neglect
them or do they keep them in good re-
pair" that have replied. 1.-THE towns
throughout the State of Connecticut as
a rule take good care of our State
roads, either of Macadam, gravel. or
simply earth construction, involving
only grading" think that statement
has been borne out in actual fact and
that the towns of the State do take an