The Bossier banner., 1907-07-04
WIDE awake MADISON
A Tennessee County Building
Many Miles of Good Roads.
HOW THE START WAS MADE.
It Took an Old Farmer to Make the
Authorities Realize What Bad Roads
Were Costing Them - Novacuiite
Used In Constructing the Highways.

How Madison county, Tenn. secured
good roads is an interesting story told
by writer in Breeders Gazette. Chi
cago, and may offer suggestion to
other communities burdened with i'm
passable highways. Several years ago
Sam Lancaster, city engineer of Jack
son, Tenn, turned his attention to the
condition of the streets of Jackson and
the roads Of the surrounding country.
He found the county commissioners
planking some of the roads and began
by showing them that the wood cost
as much as good stone would cost.
1t took lot of effort to move the au-
thorities, but at last a little beginning
was made and some stone laid down.
There was much opposition. yet the
people liked the road, and the seed
sprouted, the yeast worked In 1903
the roads in winter became impassable.
Men came in for groceries afoot.
great meetings was called to discuss
caster back of it ALL He had bill
drawn empowering the issuing of
bonds for road building to the amount
of $150.OO0 and put in care of a friend
shrewd in such matters. The meeting
was a warm one, and the discussion
took varied sides. Most of the con
servatives" were opposed to bonds.
''Tax and pay as we CO. was their ar
gument. That meant nothing doing
After weary arguments and no appar-
ent progress an old man arose, tired
old man, splattered with red mud from
head to foot, his boots caked with mud.
his trousers painted with it, In a
feeble voice and with dcprecating
manner this old man said:
''AIr. Chairman, live out n few miles
from town. have little farm aud Il
little sawmill can't come to town
now in any other way than afoot.
came to this merchants store turning
to one of the strongest opponents Of
the bond issuel and bought about S.,
worth of groceries today. l will carry
them home on my back. 1t is the only
way l can take them home. Now, |
need more than S25 worth of things
from his store, and If could get to
town with my team | could bring
enough stuff that I have for. sale i'll
one load to pay for the store things. |
would like to see good road before
die Mr.. Chairman, / must be going
soon. for 1t Is long walk through the
mud to my place."
Asilence fell upon the assembly. The
merchant was abashed. Then he him.
self arose and offered resolution call
ing for the drafting of bill to bond
the county. And the committee re-
tired for five minutes, when they came
back, and the spokesman, to Lancas-
ter's astonishment, read the draft of a
bill issuing bonds to the amount OF
100000.
The psychological moment had arriv-
ed; he was shrewd enough to know it
and had doubled the agreed upon fig
ures. With no dissenting voice the res
Olution carried, the bill went to the leg
islature, the bonds were issued, and the
good roads movement was on.
Next came the matter of materials.
Madison county is without stone. Lam
caster hunted for the best and found it
in Illinois. Freight rates were impossi-
BILE. He saw the men who manage
the Illinois Central railway and show
ed them that it would pay them to haul
the stone cheaply and help him to de.
velop the country there. They made a
low rate, and work began. This stone
they use is called noyaculite. 1t is as
hard as flint and as sharp. 1t bond;
easily and wears exceedingly well.
When the work of road building be-
gan Lancaster determined to relocate
much of the old way, that grades
should be made light, that direct
ness could be considered. Naturally
he encountered much opposition in
this, but being patient aud persistent
and conciliatory as well he generally
accomplished that point. Many ram
bling old hill roads were abandoned
and direct lines built in their stead.
The aim was that as one hill deter
mines what load may be drawn TO
Jackson there should be no hill any
where Seldom can one see as good
grades as he has given these roads
They balk ut neither cut nor fill. They
are like the inexorabie roads of the
Romans and have the same signifi-
canoe.
Not that there is money wasted; no
not penny is wasted, and the utmost
efficiency is sought from laborers, from
teamsters, from materials. They first
make the grade, then they follow and
make what they call subgrade, OF
bed for the stone. This is rolled down
hard with the steam roller. 1t has q
sharp shoulder of ''6'' to receive and
hold the stone Next comes the stone
well wetted And as it is laid dowT
and spread it is well rolled down; theI
the road is complete. Where there
are culverts to be put in they are oftei
built Of REINFORCED concrete, will
wings of the same material It is al
good, thorough work.
They have now finished sixty miles
Of road. The aim was at first to build
Ill the main roads out from town fol
distance of five miles. There were
nine principal roads, which with theil
branches made seventeen miles. Latel
they will extend these roads to nins
miles, Do not imagine that this ha:
been done with poorly paid labor. Ths
men get S1.25 per day and the team.
are paid by the mile. SO that the,
must earn their money. but the basi.