Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1905-07-15
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
CONSTRUCTION OF MODEL HIGHWAYS
IN WsSTCHESTER COUNTY, NV.
Commissioner william 4. Miles Tells
of His Most satisfactory Results
with Mncndam - How to Improve
Earth Roads by Grnding.

of His Most satisfactory Results
with Mncndam - How to Improve
Earth Roads by Grading.
At the recent national good roads
convention held in Jacksonville, Fla,
comment was mad" upon the fine type
of roads shown by Mount Vernon, y.
y. Its system Of highways connects
with those of New York city and up
per Westchestcr county. making II con
tinuous driV" on eXCellcntly paved
roads from lower New York to Mount
Kisco, II distance of forty miles. Com
missioner William A. Miles, who has
been engaged in road construction in
WcStch"St"r county for tn" past ten
years. writes American AEriculturist
as follows regarding his most satisfaC
tory results in construction:
our territory is inland, and the cost
to construct these roads has been con
sidcrably more than other districts
which have the advantage of water
transportation. Our macudam Is gen
orally eight inches thick. consisting of
"A four inch layer of two and half
inch trap rock, three inch layer of
one and half inch trap rock and an
inch of trap rock screenings. Each
course of ston" Is thoroughly rolled
with Il ten ton steam roller and con
tInunlly wet with a sprinkling wagon
during the l.oCcSS of rolling.
The telford maCndam is construct
ed by placing by hand labor native
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six inches. After thoroughly rolling
this surface with ten ton steam roller
II layer Of two and Il half inch trap
rock three inches thick is then spread
over this surface, after which the re
quired thickness Of twelve inches is
made up OF one and n half inch trap
rock and screenings. Where the nrture
of the ground Is unstable and wet tel
ford maCadam is constructed, but
where the soil or subgrade is firm and
dry macadam alone is employed.
Our granite block pavement is also
laid on concrete and bedded in sand
After being laid the Joints between the
blocks are swept full Of sand and the
pavement thoroughly rammed in the
usual way. This class Of pavement IS
also confined to much used roads and
steep grades.
"Whlc the first cost Of construction
of vitrihrd brick roads has been greater
than maradam, the expense of main
tcnance, repairs, cleaning and sprin-
killing has been much less. Nltrihed
brick pavements are laid on six inches
of concrete and one inch OF sand. The
pavement has been thoroughly rolled
ana any defective or diScOlored brick
turned or replaced by sound ones Aft
er the pavement Is thoroughly smooth
and rolled solid IL portland cement
grout has been applied. filling the joints
full to the surface. After being allow
ed to set for from four to six days the
road Is thrown open to the public"
Earth roads can be materially i'm
proved for summer travel by passing Il
grader or planer lightly over them early
IN the spring, before the ground has be-
come hard and baked by the sun. 1t is
much more satisfactory to make II road
good by the use of machinery than to
wear 1t down by travel. II n grader Is
not available for this work, second
hand railroad rail, one weighing from
nifty to seventy pounds per yard, can
be dragged by n team of horses up one
side Of the road and down the other
with excellent effect. one round trip
Is usually sufficient. A steel beam Is
equally rs good. The object of this
treatment IS to smooth down the ridges
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blade Of the grader or the rail should
be kept nearly square across the road,
so as to carry Il sufficient amount Of
earth before it TO I'LL depressons. 1t IS
most important that this work should
be done while the ground Is slightly
moist.
In the vicinity Of Durant. Ia. horses
are used no more I'm grading the coun-
try roads for Ii was found that Il trac-