East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-05-16

cent of the lateral or neighborhood
roads will remain of natures ma
terial. While this is true, 1 must ad-
monish you that it is impossible to
have a good, durable road, that will
resist the wear of travel and traffic
all seasons of the year, unless you
surface it with some kind Of hard ma
terial and keep 1t in proper repair. A
good macadam road is five times bet
ter than a good dirt road, when meas
ured by traction resistance In other
words, you can haul five times as
much with the same power over the
macadam surfaced road as you can
over the dirt road, with the best con-
ditions. A macadam road is open and
ready for traffic at all seasons, while
the dirt road is subject to varying
conditions. either mud, dust ruts or
rocks, and rarely ever, in the major
part of the country, in ideal condition,
except, maybe, in rare short distances.
To build a road under present
methods, 1t is not necessary to lay
the material to such great depth or
to such great width. The secret of a
good road is in the construction. The
foundation, which is really the sus-
tanning part of the road must be
properly prepared and rolled; then
the material crushed or broken to
uniform size, laid upon the road and
rolled to uniform depth and compact
ness, placed on in two layers, with
finishing course, that binds and ce-
ments together, making a solid, i'm
pervious roof, which sheds the water,
and of a top material hard enough
to resist the abrasions of traffic; the
thickness of material compacted six
to nine inches, according to condi-
tions and amount of traffic; the
width, nine to 16 feet, governed by
the character of the road, as to being
the main thoroughfare, or a lateral
country road.
Experts Are Cheapest.
No county judge, road official or
commissioner is justified in expending
the public monies in the building of
roads, unless he is master of the art,
or secures an engineer or expert road
builder. 1t is proper construction that
brings permanent results more than
anything else, and the practice of
careless, slip-shod methods brings
disfavor and disaster to road improve
ment. How many officials waste
money and time by simply Jumping
material Unfortunately upon the
surface of the road, leaving it to be
compacted by traffic. There is no
chance for surface drainage; the wa
ter soaks right down through the
rocks and gravel and destroys the
foundation. What would you think
of a public official, who would build
court house, or a postoffice, or a
school house, placing the material in
the construction in such a manner
that the water from the rains perco-
lated down through the roof and
walls and foundation, for their under
mining and destruction? Yet this is
the same principle involved. Sloven-
ly methods of road building are in
use in too many places in this coun-
try.
1t is not difficult mater to gain
the knowledge of how to properly
build a road. The libraries are full
of good, practical books, dealing with
every detail of the subject. The gov
ernment division at Washington, D.
c., will furnish free of cost, upon
application by postal card, bulletins
telling you how to grade and tile and
crown and surface and finish a road.
Good Roads Pay for Themselves.
But some will say to me: I'VE may
learn all that, and may employ en-
gineers and experts to build roads,
but where are we going to get the
money? Here is the problem" Yes,
it is true, it is the problem under
our present system. 1t has been
solved by other countries, states and
communities, equitably and justly,
and ample means have been provided
for this improvement, without laying
the burden too heavily upon any. The
principle involved is that the public
road is a distinct public improve
ment; that it's use and benefit is
shared alike by all people, and all in
kterests, commercial and industrial, as
| well as agricultural, and that the
J means should be provided by ta1
levied equally upon all property, and
| lHdl lllt HlOHey De eApenQ6Q unQel
proper management and intelligent
supervision. This is no longer a the.
ory; it has been in actual practica
demonstration in several of the Older
states for 10 years or more, and ha.
, proven to be the best and proper solu
ton of the road problem. The prin
: cipal highways should be placed un
der such supervision and control anC
| general uniform system should b,
I adopted, connecting the counties ant
principal cities by a network of stat,
roads.
Much might be said in favor of tn,
states aiding in the building of noun
tain roads, which would develop thei
scenic grandeur. This pays hand
somely. 1t is said that Switzerland
turns "the golden glow of her sun
= sets into the coin of the realm" b.
her scenic roads, That America alon
spends many thousands each year t
climb these mountain roads for tn
2 scenery of the Alps. Counties an
towns along the Blue Ridge and Ap
palachian ranges have their owl
well-organized Mountain Road asso
Citations, and these scenic roads ar
ever increasing means of revenue
e Whera in all the world is to he foun,