Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1906-07-26

proves q sucres- others viii 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 section. Of the State.
notably the delta, the plan has proven
an excellent one, and it Is likely that il
might be adopted with profit BY . great
many OF the counties where there Is not
too much sand in the soil. II j. nothing
more than burning of the earth that
forms the road, making il hard and i'm
Per,ious to water. something like brick.
Hon Walter Clark, president Of the
Cotton Association, gave it a trial in
conjunction with the Beard Of supervis-
ors in his county three years ago, and 10
firm believer that the plan is a success.
In his section at least He described the
process a. follows: First grade your
road to the required width, 20 or 90 feet,
with 4 crown of I2 inches in the center.
Then with a turning plow, or preferably
q middle buster, made ridges across the
road. something like those for cotton,
throwing up the dirt as high as possible
These ridges should be feet in width.
80 that wood feet long would meet
upon the top of each Then cover with
4-foot split wood. or inches in size.
ehinking the cracks with bark. chips or
other small stuff. After this wood has
been placed in position. cover with earth
to depth of 5 or 8 inches, smoothing
down as IL l. thrown on 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 10 Ill 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 IL then ready
for firing. Care and Judgment must be
exercised in this part Of the work to in
sure the best results II the wind l.
blowing at the time Of firing. bSIild the
fires in end rext to the wind. 80 that
II will BE driven 10 center OF through to
other end Push lighted kindling to cen
ter, thereby insurins a good ere at that
point It Is necessary that the wood
burn out first AZ the center, allowing dirt
to fall down at that point first. other
wise the iue viii become cloxz-d and
she draft cut off, The timber in upper
layer Will become ignite.i at the proper
time from that below. and in a few
hours the work will have been completed
After allowing the road to cool suffi-
eient for teams to travel on il. . little
attention from a road machine and roller
Of proper proportions will provide n 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 Ike 81, 400.
although this would likely vary accord
ing to LEGAL conditions. Roads treated
by him in this manner three years since
are today in perfect condition and show
no sign of wear. Even If it was neees-
sary to give it some little attention
yearly, il 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 howls about his taxes should
remember that his bad roads tax is larger
than all the others combined
Our people have been slow to take ad-
vantage of opportunities to improve
their reads. but there is a change taking
place, and the writer believes that \
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 reads. 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
years. The writer would like to hear
from interested parties on this subject,
and would appreciate suggestions and ex-
perienees from those who have studied
the matter and tried plans OF any kind
Preparations are being perfected row
for the holding OF several fairs this fall.
and from present Indications they will
Be better and attended with more inter-
est than ever Lefore. Counties that hold
successful fairs are, without contradic-
tion, the most prosperous, and are max
ing greater strides toward improvement
along all lines. The county fair is .
great st:mulant to induce the people to
improve their production of crops, and
also their stock, fowls, etc 1t Is to be
hoped that in few years aimest every
county in the State viii hold an annual
fair. The Mississippi Industrial Exposi-
tion, which Is the State Fair that follows
ths others and attempts to do for the
whole State what a county fair viii do
for the county in which il Is held, prom
ises to he 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 pzrpose of the
directors to add few buildings each
year until sufficient are provided to take
care of all exhibits offered Looking to
that end, an excellent concrete stone
building, soxl60 feet, viii 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 q number of large tents pro-
vided for stock, dogs, chickens, etc The
first fair, which was gotten together in
. few weeks, was n success. 10000 Peo-
pie passing through the gates, and the at
tendance last year, the second, was more
than double. there being in attendance
$4,000 people from nearly every county
IN The State and more than half the
States in the Union The promoters are