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

~ iA's IVPVS Aaphy VI
the country and many other considera-
tions. In formulating a plan, there
fore, to meet the various needs of the
various localities so affectedsit is nee
essary to thoroughly understand the
conditions which have 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 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 large expenditure
upon certain roads, but a 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
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
traffic 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
temporarily, 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
the expanding of large sums on expen-
sive roads. 1t is true that the demand
for the better roads is growing. Near
the towns where the traffic is becoming
greater, soon they will have to be
built; these cheap methods and mater
ials will not be the most economical
IN the long run. This need and de-
mand will come with greater amount
of funds available for use in this line.
The better roads should be built grad
ually IN those places needing them and
gradually extended according to de-
mand and funds available.
The materials to be used in road
making in the different sections vary
greatly. There is generally an abund-
ance of basaltic rock from which the
macadam road may be constructed, but
the cheaper materials vary greatly.
On the West Side there are numerous
glacial deposits of gravel which can be
put on the roads from four to six inch
es deep, making good if not the most
durable road in all kinds of weather.
This material can be used with not a
great deal of expense and labor. In
many places thing is needed. In
others the road bed needs to be re-
moved and other, better material sub
stituted. Turnpiking is of great adj
vantage. In the clayey soils, little
can be done outside of turnpiking
correcting the grade and thing.
5. A. Turner, of the First Nation
al bank, has been at Spokane this
week.