The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-06-16
ready for immediate use.

l
| The cost of construction, including oil
on the basis of SI.oo per barrel. would
be approximately eighteen hundred dof
lars per mile, for a twenty foot road
way. But our Caddo oil is deficient in
asphalt, as shown by the analysis we had
made of It in the laboratory at Los AM
geles. and California oil can not be had
owing to the scarcity of tank cars. In
this dilemma our consulting engineer
prepared a compound of Caddo oil 90
per cent with California asphalt 40 per
cent ard found that our oil worked ad-
n!irably as 4 medium in the application
Of the asphalt. but necessarily raised the
cost of the road some fifteen h,Andred
dollars. The experiment was made III
order to ascertain the maximum cost for
our roads, which would be from thirty
three hundred dollars to thirty-hve hum
bred dollars per mile.
| We have taken up the question of as
phalt residuum and pure asphalt from
| the Texas fields, where the percentage of
asphalt runs higher. and have forwarded
samples of both to Los Angeles for an
analysis and report by our engineer.
which if favorable will work a sl1arn re-
ductlon on the estimate given for the
asphalt compound
Our engineer Is confident that he can
duplicate California roads on Louisiana
soil, and III the event you decide to make
a test we have arranged terms by which
he will come here, go over the ground
and prepare specifications, which will be
applied by practical road builder who
has done much work under him and
thoroughly understands the subject:
Your committee, feeling that the oues-
ton OF permanent roads is today live
issue IN Caddo parish, demanding Sc
rious consideration at the hands of the
Police jury, is leaving no stone I'M
turned to acquire the general informa-
ton necessary for your guidance in its
intelligent determination
The cost of the material alone for the
construction of Macadam roadway
sixteen feet wide and one mile long
would be elghty-two hundred and fif-
teen dollars, making the total cost when
completed above nine thousand dollars.
with high cost for maintenance, and
unless treated with tar or oil or kept
sprinkled with water would become an
intOlerahle dust orod1,cer
The total cost, when completed of an
oiled roadway twenty feet wide and one
mile long would be, as per estimated
cost attached, thirty-three hundred dol
lars, with relatively small cost for main
tenance, and almost total freedom from
dust
GENERALLY.
Artificial roads are dependent for sue
cess. primarily, on perfect drainage:
and the necessary work in eye grS ing
and surfacing the roadbed and bitches
is practically the same on ALL The
Macadam is the most expensive roaA 6
built, and unless treated with oil sec
becomes an easy prey to the grea all
dast. a. ,.,- west
:, Inc du'ol'iooiie. no ionai
the automobile is here to stay and and
hereafter be reckoned with accor st of
The oiled road is the most ec,l4.
cal, and under up-to-date coisst, de-
accommodates every variety OF inter-
with the utmost acceptability ana
deterioration
In conclusion, we are encouraged to Z
believe that oiled roads can be success
fully constructed in Louisiana, and an :
account OF their excellence and cheap
ness, that their general adoption will be
but matter of time
We recommend that the Police Jury
build two miles of oiled roadway during
the coming summer, in order that its
merits and adaptability to our soil and
climate may be fully tested.
Along with Our report we submit pho
tograplls of number of the oiled roads
be have examined, and of the machines
required in their construction, together
with a section taken from the center of
a road that has been in use for several
years Also samples of crude Caddo and
California oils and of the compound of
Caddo oil with asphalt Also statement
i'll detail showing cost of construction,
and cross section of oiled road
Respectfully submitted.
R. FURMAN,
Chairman.
R. T. DOUGLAS.
w. T. CRAWFORD.
JULES DREYFUSS.
Shreveport, La, June -, 1907.
By Mr. Dreyfuss-That the report be