The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-02-04
THINK TAR OR OIL
WOULD HELP ROADS
County Engineer Inspected
Work At Jackson, Tenn.
TO BE USED Ar WEST END
Opinion Prevails That Tar Could Be
Used On County's Worn Mac
adam Roads To Great
Advantage.

mat TAR or oil is the remedy for the
WORKOUT macadam roads of jefferson
county was the opinion of the county
engineers office yesterday. The fact that
Ensley tar had been used to such adj
vantage way up in Tennessee was I'M
pressive.
County Engineer Miner last summer
went up to Jackson, Tenn, observed the
durability OF the tar roads. and drew up
specifications for roads at West End
Bids were advertised, and the contract
for West End streets was awarded on
these specifications, at cost of about
so cents a square yard from the earth up,
but on account OF the financial conditions
which came on the work had to be aban-
doned.
Engineer Brown was of the opinion
that the old macadam roads could be
swept, spiked, rolled and covered with
the tar and sand at very little cost, not
much exceeding the cost of re-macadam-
izing, and would wear much better. The
Board of Revenue may consider the mat
ter. as now is the time to act. Here are
the West End specifications relating to
grading and macadamzing:
l. Grading-The grading shall be done
in accordance with the stakes set by the
city engineer. The price bid for excava-
ton shall include the removal of the
material to such places and its placing
in such shape as the city engineer may
direct, where the haul is not more than
1000 feet. One cent per cubic yard per
100 feet overhaul will be allowed on dis
tances beyond this limit.
Sub-Grade-The sub-grade after being
shaped so as to conform to the section
indicated by the city engineer, shall be
rolled with a roller Weighing not less
than ten tons, by beginning about the
curb line and rolling towards the GEN.
ter; allowing the roller to extend not
more than IL inches on the unrolled por-
ton at each trip.
The rolling shall be continued so long
as the city engineer may deem necessary.
All soft and spongy places that fail to
compact shall be removed and replaced
with Stag or gravel.
2. Foundation-Upon the sub-grade pre-
pared as above shall be spread a layer
of clean furnace Stag, broken so as to
pass through a three-inch ring, in such
thickness as will finish five inches; tho
same to be rolled as hereinbefore specified
for the sub-grade.
8. Surface-Upon the foundation SO
prepared shall be spread a layer of ebert
broken so as to pass in any direction
through two-inch ring, such layer of
ebert to be of such thickness as will
finish 21s inches; and after being care
fully spread so as to conform to the sec
ton of the street as laid out by the en-
gineer. shall be Tolled as hereinbefore
specified for the sub-grade.
A. Then shall be spread a layer of
ebert broken so as to pass through a
11R-inch ring any direction, said layer of
ebert to be of such thickness as will
finish ~ inch IS thick, and after being
carefully spread to conform to the sec
ton of the street as laid out by the en-
gineer, shall be rolled as hereinbefore
specified for sub-grade.
5. All ebert shall be wetted before
rolled; in such manner as the engineer
may direct
6. The street shall not be opened for
travel till In the Judgment of the en-
gfneer 1t has thoroughly dried out. Then
it shall be thoroughly swept with steel
brooms, all sweeping to be swept in the
cutters. Then a coat of tar equal to
not less than one-half gallon to the
square yard shall be spread over same;
said tar to reach the street at a tempera-
ture not less than 1870 degrees as soon
thereafter as the engineer may direct
Then said tar cap shall be covered with
the sweepings reinforced with No. / sand
sufficiently thick to cover all tar Then
said street to be closed from one to three
days in the judgment of the engineer
it shall be opened, ready for travel.
7. Where all maeadam paving is to be
used as a foundation it shall be re-slir-
faced to grades and sections laid out by
the city engineer either by filling or ex-
cavating as the conditions require. No
blowing will be allowed in making ex-
cavations, but they must be made with
picks and shovels or other hand tools.
After surfacing, the foundation shall be
rolled to satisfaction of the city engineer
with a roller weighing not less than 10
TONS
g. General-All material and workman
ship shall be first-class. subject to the
approval of the city engineer