Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1906-06-16

eiNAi'' Al AVAAiuiabillB q pidlls bhSIS-
fore, to meet the various needs of the
various localities so affected 1T is nee
essary to thoroughly understand the
conditions which have a tendency to
cause bad roads in all these localities
| and the object to be attained in cor
recting them
The real problem which confronts
the men who attempt a general i'm
provement of the roads of Washington
is not the building of a large number
of miles of permanent roads, but the
application of temporary material dur
ing certain seasons of the year. 1t is
not the improvement of temporarily
impossible or permanently bad roads,
but ordinarily good roads, temporarily
bad. 1t means not a large expenditure
upon certain roads, but considerable
amount distributed over considerable
mileage.
We may divide the state into Sec
lions according to the conditions which
tend to bad roads and the material
which is available and economical for
use on the roads. These sections. in
a very general way, are the West side,
the arid sections or wheat lands, and
the clayey regions, including the Pa
louise country, the Blue Mountain re-
gion, and parts of the northern part
Of the state. Parts of the northern
section may be classed with the West
Side on account of the material for
road construction.
The actual condition to be met is
the tendency of the roads in the driver
sections to become dusty and to work
up into "chuck holes" under the heavy
Irallc OF the summer wheat hauling !
and, in the Palouse country and on
the West Side the bad conditions
caused by excessive moisture in the
clayey soils. For the greater part of
the year these conditions do not exist.
The application of cheap materials
at the proper time, work
ing the roads at the proper time, some
little turnpiking and thing and a good
deal Of changing the location of roads
to secure better grades are the means
TO meet these conditions rather than
he eXpending of large sums on expen-
i've roads. 1t is true that the demand 4
.or the better roads is growing. Near
'he towns where the traffic is becoming 4
greater, soon they will have to be
oullt; these cheap methods and mater
ais will not be the most economical
n the long run. This need and de-
nand will come with greater amount =
L funds available for use in this line.
he better roads should be built grad t
ally IN those places needing them and
radually extended according to de- I
land and funds available. =
The materials to be used in road /
laklng in the different sections vary i
realty. There is generally an abund
nee of basaltic rock from which the :
acadam road may be constructed, but /
lie cheaper materials vary greatly. /
n the West Side there are numerous
acial deposits of gravel which can be
1T on the roads from four to six inch
deep, making a good if not the most {
lrable road in all kinds of weather. {
his material can be used with not t
reat deal of expense and labor. In
ANY places thing is needed. In =
Tiers the road bed needs to be re-
loved and other, better material sub t
tituted. Turnpiking is of great adj !
antage. In the clayey soils, little
an be done outside Of turnpiking
the grade and thing.
S. A. Turner, of the First Nation
i bank, has been at Spokane this
week.
VIM Buckley has been quite sick
luaip fbi, ,,,-,1. IL