Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1907-12-11
Macadam Road Construction at
Natural Bridge

Road Construction at
Natural Bridge
Last Saturday members OF the
Board of Supervisors of Rock
bridge and several other gentle
men spent the day at the Natural
Bridge in order to witness pub
lie demonstration of practical ma
cadam road building. The invl-
tation was extended 10 his fellow
supervisors by Supervisor W, E.
l.. Stark of the Natural Bridge
district, and this invitation was
supplemented by a cordial invita-
ton of Mr.. Charles II. Paxton,
manager of the Natural Bridge no.
tells, to be his guests for the day
and take dinner at the hotel
The Natural Bridge Company
used for road construction the very
hest modern machinery, such as a
steam drill for getting cut rock,
steem crusher and large roller. The
drill can do ten times the work OF
drilling by hand and the crusher
is provided with screens SO that
sew eral sizes of rock may be pre-
pared for the roads. Before spread
ing the rock the roadbed is prop
erly prepared by grading, etc,
The larger stone is then spread to
the depth of come elk inches, and
then rolled, This is followed by
a LAYER of earth and then com
rleted with several inches OF
finely crushed rock. The whole
lie then rolled compactly. To get
the very best results the stone
should be well sprinkled before
using the roller. The water helps
TO form a cement and when sutfic
iently rolled leaves a compact read
and smooth surface, which makes
q substantial road and ready for
Immediate use. And one of the
great features lie that it is SMOOTH
and does not have to be tramped
dcwn by horses feet or rolled In oy
.he wheels of vehicles.
The road construction at the
Natural Bridge wac unoer the sup
eryision of MI. John II. Stoner,
WHO for the past two months had
directed u force of hands in this
work. The stretch of road con-
pleted extends flom the stables OF
the CON pany this side the hotel t.
point Just beyond the bridge, a
a distance of some half mile. MIR.
Steiner says that an ordinary ccun
ty road, say twelve feet wide anc
the stone nine inches deer, can bt
constructed for for $500 to 81, 600
a mile.
Inc gentlemen composing the
party were Supervisors j. h.
" hitmore of Lexington district,
}. j. l.. Kinnear of South River
K. Patterson of Walkers Greek
ard Supervisor-elec: Rice Batinge'
of Kerr's Greek; Road Commits
,ioEer v. w. WEitmOre Of Natura
Bridge. Common wealth's 4ttorEe
ID. Z. Moore, Messrs. Paul NJ. Pc
rick, $. b. Walker, McClung Pat
ton, N. ". Paxton and VIM. X
Kennedy of Lexington. A suGr
tunue diner was served at
o'clock.
just before separating for thelI
homes, the visitors gathered in IT,
spacious reception room OF the no
tel and uron invitation OF thel
host, Mr.. Paxton, briefly discussed
the question of permanent roads
Among those who thus expressed
themselves were Messrs. Paxton
Kennedy, Moore, Penick and Pat
ton. The concensns OF opinion
was that Rockbridge should hav
good rcads, and that good road
could not be tullt without tn
right kind of n achinery and a SUI
ficient supply of funds. Their
was difference of opinion as to hoy
the money should be provided
several expressing themselves q
favoring issuing bonds.
Mr.. w. G.. Mathews of the Nat
nral Bridge Company made tn
following most liberal offer; Tha
tie county authorities were wei
.Gme TO use their equipment fire
of oil cost provided it should b
used IN making permanent road
If. tie main thoreughfares O
RGcktridge. And he suggeste'
that it would only be fair to begi
work in the Natural Bridge dis
trict and work towards Lexington
The equipment COST about $6,0CC
The cost of running the machirer,
with sufficient force of hands t
grade, crush the stone and MAI
the road is about $25 or $50
day.
On account of illness Mr.. Star
could not be present.