Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1908-11-04

from year to year, says the Scientific American.
Here in the United States the art Of macadamzed road
building at least on scale Of any magnitude is Of com
parative recent date Such roads as have construct
ed have been built as rule under experienced engineers
and according those principles which have been so thor
oughy tested in Europe Generally new roads, on
their completion, Of excellent quality. The work is SO
we'll done that there why with proper mante
nance they should not show the same wearing qualities
similar roads abroad.
AS matter Of FACT in the majority of cases, roads
after single seasons wear have apsed into condition
that is little better than that OF common country dirt
road the top dressing has not disappeared entirely
will be found the shape OF deep layer of dust and fine
stone at each side Of the roadway the stripped surface
will be less deeply into iuts or hammered
into holows and not nErequenty the underlying
of large broken stone or rock will be clearly dscernble
Why do American macadam roads 60 to pieces SO
swiftly while those Of Europe maintain their fine surface
indefinitely? The is found in the fact that in
Europe they have careful system OF road maintenance
and in the United States we have none or practically none
European roadbuders and supervisors clearly understand
that there engineering work that depends more abso
utey for its integrity and pernanence upon careful aen-
lion and upkeep than does macadamized highway They
understand, that there is work Of the kind
in which the old adage stitch in time saves nine" is
true than this, and consequently their system Of
road maintenance involves and careful nspec-
ton, and the immediate repair OF any spot in the road
however SHldl tnat SHOWS mCplent signs OF breaking
down. Hence the work of keep up the European roads
is being done all the time in mep place. and by large
army Of individual workers. The solitary road reparer
with his wheebarrow, pick and h lyel and little pile
Of broken stone and top dressing familiar sight Ii is
his duty to inspect daily his owr section On detecting
low spot when water might co lest (the genesis Of the
American "chuckhole" , he mak,s Immediate repairs
Here, in the United States we know little or nothing
Of such road mantenances as this No sooner is stretch
Of new road completed and paid Tor than is left to the
tender Ierces Of the traffic and he weather Incipien
ruts and hoows instead Of receiving the immediate care
of the road member are allowed 10 remain full Of the
standing water Of this last rainstorm and are quickly
deepened and widened BY the wear Of passing traffic
When the work has proceeded unhndered to certain
stage Of ruin the road is given wholesale repair (sc)
by dumping upon few hundred tons Of top dressing.
which is left to be crushed down ino the irregular and
ragged surface beneath BY such haphazard rolling as may
be given BY the passing tra6c
In the present campaign Of good roads education more
attention should be paid The vital function oE road maiD
tenence. Our present practice Of building 6rstclass
road and then letting SO ruin fast as wind weather
and traffic wreck il is the height of-cly and exrays
eance