The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1906-07-28

are advertising for bids on two pieces OF
burned road as an experiment, and if 1t
proves a success Others will be treated
in a like manner. This plan of road
building is not entirely new in Missis-
sippi, some of it having been done sew
eral years since. In sections of the State,
notably the delta, the plan has proven
M excellent one, and it is likely that it
might be adopted with profit by a great
many of the counties where there is not
too much sand in the soil. 1t is nothing
more than a burning of the earth that
forms the road, making it hard and I'M
pervious to water, something like a brick.
Hon. Walter Clark, president of the
Cotton Association, gave it a trial in
conjunction with the Board of Supcrvis-
ors in his county three years ago, and is
a firm believer that the plan is IA success,
in his section at least. He described the
process as follows: First grade your
road to the required width, 20 or 80 feet,
with a crown of IL inches in the center.
Then with a turning pillow, or preferably
q middle buster, made ridges across the
lOiO oOluClIIbS 1hS Ah ONSO
throwing up the dirt as high as possible.
These ridges should be 4 feet in width,
so that wood 4 feet long would meet
upon the top of each. Then cover with
4-foot split wood, s or 6 inches in size,
thinking the cracks with bark, chips or
other small stuff. After this wood has
been placed in position, cover with earth
to a depth of s or 6 inches, smoothing
down as it is thrown III. On top of this
layer of earth place another layer of
wood, parallel with the other and the
road, using any size convenient poles,
logs, stumps and other stuff, being care
full to fill in alongside any large stuff
with smaller timber, to insure perfect
ignition and an even burn. Then place
II inches of earth on top of this second
layer of wood. The road is then ready
for firing. Care and judgment must be
exercised in this part of the work to in
sure the best results. If the wind Is
blowing at the time of firing, build the
fires in end next to the wind, so that
it will be driven to center or through to
other end. Push lighted kindling to CEN
ter, thereby insuring a good fire at that
point. 1t is necessary that the wood
burn out first at the center, allowing dirt
to fall down at that point first, other
wise the f1ue will become clogged and
the draft cut off. The timber in upper
layer will become ignited at the proper
time from that below, and in a few
hours the work will have been completed.
After allowing the road to cool suffl-
cient for teams to travel on 1t, a little
attention from a road machine and roller
of proper proportions will provide a hard,
smooth surface that years of constant
travel will not affect.
Mr.. Clark estimates the cost of a mile
of this road to be something like $1,40O,
although this would likely vary accord
ing to local conditions. DAD treated
by him in this manner three years since
are today in perfect condition and show
no sign of wear. Even if it was neces-
sary to give it some little attention
yearly, it would still be an economical
plan of taking care of our roads. Gravel
roads, even where gravel can be had,
cost about 5000 per mile, and this is
said by those in a position to know to be
almost if not quite equal thereto. The
saving in wear and tear on teams, har-
ness and vehicles, to say nothing of the
increased loads and saving of time, would
soon pay the cost of good roads. The
farmer who bowls about his taxes should
remember that his bad roads tax is larger
than all the others combined.
Our people nave been slow to take adj
vantage of opportunities to improve
their roads, but there is a change taking
place, and the writer believes that a
spirit of progress is sweeping the country
that will show wonderful improvements
along this line in the next few years.
The crying need of Mississippi today IS
better roads, and the pioneers who are
blazing the way to improved conditions
of our highways are the men who deserve
monuments to their memory In later
wears. The writer would like to hear
from interested parties on this subject,
and would appreciate suggestions n ex-
periences from those who have studied
the matter and tried plans of any kind.
Preparations are being perfected now
for the holding of several fairs this fall,
and from present indications they Will
be better and attended with more inter-
est than ever before. Counties that hold
successful fairs are, without contradlc-
ton. the most prosperous, and are max
NO greater strides toward Improvement
along all lines. The county fair is a
great stimulant to induce the people to
improve their production of crops, n
also their stock, fowls, etc. 1t is to be
hoped that in a few years almost every
county in the State will hold an annual
fair. The Mississippi Industrial EXPOSE
ton, which is the State Fair that follows
The others and attempts to do for the
whole State what a county fair will do
for the county in which it is held, prom
ises to be larger and more interesting
than in former years. The lease by the
Legislature of the old Capitol and grounds
has been accepted by the association,
and preparations for additional buildings
are under way. 1t is the purpose of the
directors to add a few buildings each
year until sufficient are provided to take
care of all exhibits offered. Looking to
that end, an excellent concrete stone
building, sOx160 feet, will be erected in
time for the exposition this fall, and
also some smaller ones. The ground
floor. of the old Capitol will be used
again. and a number of large tents pro-