The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-05-18

4 = mineral oil and road i'm
Go< provement Mr. Abbott is
the special agent OF Rocky Mountain
and Pacific Coast Division. Officer of
Public Road Inquiries, Agricultural
Department. His pamphlet. published
in 1902, gives the results of the use for
.oad making in California Of the coal
oil found in that State. At that date
its use had passed the experimental
stage. being used with excellent results
in more than twenty-five counties, and
other counties preparing to use it in
the coming season. The coal oil IS ap-
piled in its crude state to the soil, and
Its action is almost immediate, binding
together the loose particles Of soil that
constitute the road surface, whether
composed Of clay, sandy loam. loose
sand or gravel, forming tough stra-
tum, resembling an asphaltum road
way, and capable Of sustaining heavy
travel though of narrow tire wagons.
One popularity of this road bed is that
while the usual asphaltum road be-
comes softened by the heat Of the sun
to such a degree that wagon " eee!s
cut into Il. yet no difficulty Of this pd
exists with the surface Of an oiNd
road. 1t remains smooth and hard un-
der hot sun.
The California oil has an asphaltum
base, so also has the Texas oil. but the
oils of Pennsylvania. Ohio. Indiana,
Colorado and Wyoming have a paratiin
base. Some experiments have been
made with these paratfin oils to deter
mine their value for road making. but
the experiments have not been suffi-
ciently extended or with sufficient per-
sistency to settle their suitableness.
1t seems to be settled that it is the
asphaltum in the California and Texas
oils that gives them their property OF
forming q hard surface. and Mr.. Alb
bott intimates that coal oil naturally
lacking in aspialtum can be supplied
with it artificially, that the gilsonites
of Utah and Colorado. the asphalt de-
Dosits of Indiana, Arkansas. Indian
Territory. and probably other localities
will all doubtless yield product that
can be combined with paratiin petro-
leums, and make. suitable material
for road making.
Careful and exhaustive experiments
at Purdue University might determine
how the Indian oils could be chcaply
treated so as to Originate and solidify.
This would be great boom to our
farming people, for aside from the us
of the oil for road making, every farm
er could at a small expense. and by rs
own labor surround lis premises with
all the foot walks he might need, thus
adding to the comfort end health Of his
family.
1 recently read al article which
stated the price per square yard for Oil
roads in California. cannot quote the
figures. as I have not the article 1t
hand, but the cost was triiing.
A cheap process for using the IN
diana parafiin oil would not only ben
eft the farmer, but the city and village
folk as we'll. for there are many little
walks that could be made in back
yards for the people OF the house which
are now neglected to be laid. because
usual material for the purpose is eX-
pensive.
Having in mind the suggestion OF
Mr.. Abbott the thing now needed is
that skilled chemist shall make eX-
periments toward cheaply utilizing tine
Indiana oil for road making. and if
successful in his efforts publish the re-
suits with instructions for use. so plain
and practical that all can understand.
so that the publication might truthfuliy
have the designation, Every man his
own roadmaker.'
MY notion is that if the chemist vii!
determine mixture with our paraftin
coal oil that will harden enough for
road making or for fOotpaths, cheap
enough to make it desirable. then 1t
will be manufactured and sold by the
gallon or barrel to those who have use
for it.-Correspondencc Of the Indiana
Farmer. -. 80. =! -.,r.,