The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1905-05-19

have the principal part of the work
accomplished.
l would not discourage the improve
ment of the natural dirt road. and Of
its careful and constant attention. We
cannot hope to macadamize and gravel
all our roads at once, and large pro-
portion must necessarily be the COM
mon, every day dirt road, and always
certain per cent Of the lateral or
neighborhood roads will remain Of
natures material While this is true,
must admonish you that it is impos-
sible to have good road that will re-
sist the wear of travel and traffic all
seasons Of the year, unless You surface
it with some kind Of hard material
and keep it in proper repair. A good
macadam road is five times better
than good dirt road, when measured
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 is subject to varying condi-
tions, either mud, dust, ruts or rocks,
and rarely ever, in the major part Of
the county, in ideal condition, except,
maybe, in short distances.
To build road under present meth
dds it is not necessary to lay the ma
terial 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 prop
erly prepared and rolled; then the
materil crushed or broken to uniform
size, laid upon the road and rolled to
uniform depth and compactness,
placed on in two layers, with finish
ing course, that binds and cements to-
gether, making a solid, impervious
roof which sheds the water, and of a
top material hard enough to resist the
abrasions of traffic; the width, to
16 feet. governed by the character Of
the road, as to being the main thor
oughfare, or lateral country road.
No county Judge, road official or
commissioner is justified in spending
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-shot methods brings
disfavor and disaster to road improve
ment. How many officials waste
money and time by simply Jumping
material indiscriminately upon .the
surface of the road, leaving it to be
compact by traffic. There is no
chance for surface drainage; the water
soaks right down through the rocks
and gravel and destroys the founda-
tion. What would you think Of a
public offial, who would build court
house, or postoffice, or school
house, placing the material in the con-
struction in such a manner that the
water from the rains percolated down
through the roof and walls and found
alton, of their undermining and de-
struction? Yet this is the same prin-
ciple involved. Slovenly methods of
road building are in use in too many
places in this country.
1t is not a difficult matter to gain
the knowledge of how to properly
build road. The libraries are full
of good, practicable books dealing
with every detail of the subject. The
government division at Washington,
D. c., will furnish, free of cost, upon
application by postal card, bulletins
telling you how to grade and till and
crown and surface and finish road.
But some will say to me-: "We
may learn all that, and may employ
engineers and experts to build roads,
but where are we going to get the
money? Here is the problem. Yes,
1t is true, it Is the problem under our
present system. 1t has been solved by
other countries, states and communi-
ties, equitably and justly, and ample
means have been provided for this i'm
provement, without laying the burd-
en- too heavy upon any. The principal
involved is that the public road is a
direct pubic improvement; that its
use and benefit is shared alike by all
people, and all interests, commercial
and industrial, as we'll as agricultural,
and that the means should be provided
by tax levied equally upon all prop
erty, and that the money be expended
under proper management and intelli-
gent supervision. This is no longer
theory; it has been in actual prac-
tical demonstration in several of the
older states for ten years or more, and
has proven to be the best and proper
solution of the road problem. The
principal highways should be placed
under such supervision and control,
and general uniform system should
be adopted, connecting the counties
and principal cities by net work Of
state roads.
Much might be said in favor of the
states aiding in the building Of noun
tain roads, which would develop their
scenic grandeur. This pays hand
somely. It is said that Switzerland