The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-09-19
CLIMATIC CONDITIONS IN
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
Mr. Percy PrOcter Writes Of UEstY
Roads, Earthquakes. Rains. Etc.
METHODS or LAYING The DUST.
OIL Freely Used on The Roadways-
Seven Hundred Ear ,hquSte Shocks
Recorded In The 2 st Ten Years.
To the Editor Of The Republican.


For number of years an amiable old
man named Bailey used to call on the
people of Garrett County to sell
them bulbs, seeds and nursery stock.
This agent had many customers, as he
was an honest, kindly and friendly man,
who gave freely Of his advice and his
experience, and was a welcome visitor
at most farm houses, where he always
could go with clear conscience, the
stock NJ sold being reliable and all that
he claimed for it. Mr.. Bailey repre-
sented large nursery in New York
state and the proprietors are having out
huge plantation near Riverside, to
grow IN the open air such plants and
shrubs that would have to be started
under glass At the nursery in the East.
1t was like meeting an acquaintance in
a strange land to come upon suddenly
this nursery owned by a f-m from
whom one had made fr .uent purchases
IN far away state. And the diver Of
the hired vehicle originally was from
Hamilton, Ohio distant twenty-five
miles only from Cincinnati, where he
was familiar with the name Of the peo-
pie in his carriage. Incidents such as
these are pleasant to the traveller.
BY the first of August roads in South
ern California that are not oiled become
very dusty. Dust foot deep is not
unusual, and there may be no rain to
wash away this dust until November or
December. The dust covers all the
grass, sF~ubs and trees along the roads
Until they are grey in color. Careful
housewives hang feather busters on the
outside of their houses so that all who
intend u enter may remove the dirt
from their clothes and shoes; streets in
towns are either oiled macadamized or
made Of asphalt The last two kinds
have to be sprinkled with water fire.
quently to keep them clean and free
from dirt. The county roads most used
are oiled The first time road is oiled
the roadway is pIoughed and narrowed,
then it Is SHAPED, higher in the middle
than at the sides, 50 as to shed water.
but no higher than is necessary, a road
too rounding breaking up almost as fast
as a road with cutters dow 4 the middle
instead of at the edges ShaIe or
gravel is then sprinkled over the har-
rowed soil. If these are not available.
sand or crushed stone is spread on the
loose earth, then the oil is poured over
the roadway from big iron tank on
was IN, having near the ground and at
the back, pipe about seven feet long.
with holes IN it through which the oil
drips on to the ground. California oil
contains about eighty per cent. of
asphaltum and cannot be refined into
high grade gasoline or naptha. Il sells
for eighty cents q barrel, and eight
barrels Of fifty gallons each, costing
S64O, will oil fifteen hundred feet of
roadway to the width Of seven feet.
When new road is made and oiled as
above, light covering of fine gravel,
crushed rock or even sand is spread over
1t, and the whole surface is rolled or
tamped. Oiled roads are repaired once
year, IN the dry season. by cleaning
out the depressions or holes with
coarse brush or broom, and filing them
up with gravel, shale or coarse sand,
pouring oil over this, and covering the
oil with the loose gravel, shale or coarse
sand by raking or brushing it up from
the edges and cutters The object of
the repairing is to restore the surface
of the roadway to its original smooth
and sloping form, so that when the wet
season comes the water will not settle
on the bed, but run off into the cutters.
Such roads will sustain wagon loads of
several tons without injury, but all
vehicles other than those for pleasure
must have tires three or four inches
wide on the wheels. Some Of the roads
around Cincinnati are oiled and Oak
street, Oakland, from the end of the
brick pavement East to the corporation
line could be oiled every June at less
expense than it would cost to keep it
free from dust by watering it, during
the Summer. Simply to keep down
dust it is not necessary to make over
such roadway. After the street is
shaped by a road machine, the loose
stones removed and holes filled up, the
oil can be dripped on the driveway.
Over the oil should be sprlnkled gravel,
crushed stone or coarse sand, and then
the whole should be rolled or tamped.
For the first week after the street is
oiled horses and vehicles should go over