The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1908-12-02

wardness of our own country In almost
every phase of road construction aud
maintenance. 'ia
"Wldely differing conditions render
comparisons difficult, yet study Of
the roads of these countries, the high
state of Intensive agriculture noted
everywhere, with the resultant beauty
of the surrounding landscape, proves
most interesting and instructive. They
furnish lesson which America can
not afford to ignore. iu&
"The law of gravitation is universal.
The question OF gradient applies alike
to every road In every country. The
traffic to be handled, differing as It
does In quantity and character, do.
mands way over which 1t can be
moved To do this Mt n minimum Of
cost, considering both the surface of
the road and the means of conveyance,
Is the problem. Tho road must be diff
ferently adapted to meet varying con-
dltions. In other words, the traffic
must be suited to the road or the road
to the traffic.
"Experlence and observation are the
best teachers. In the opinion of those
whose views are herein expressed the
attention of the American public
should be directed primarily to three
things In road construction, namely:
"First-The selection of tho route should
be made with reference to gradient. align.
ment, character OF SOIL drainage and gent
oral ndaptability for road purposes.
"Second.-In construction the character
of the traffic to be borne. the nccesaibili
uy and cost of material should be carei
fully studied. The road best suited for
horses differs In character from that best
adapted to motor vehicles and wherever
possible different ways should be proYidt 4
ed for different kinds of traffic on the
Same route. In America. whore for years
TO como earth roads Will form large
proportion OF our highways. much future
expenso may be saved by planning these
ways 80 that when portion OF the road
Is metaled an earth rond may stu be
had Mt ono side thus relieving the metal
surface OF considerable traffic during cer7
tain seasons of the year. ..,.
"ThIrd-Too much stress cannot be laid
on tho Importance OF the proper main
tenance OF our highways. No road is ever
lnished. Traffic begins to pound and
wear away n road before construction is
completed. Maintenance must begin on
the very day the road is opened for traf-
&c and continue Without ceasing through
out the years to come.
"Two of the best specimens Of roads
seen were In England. In the vicinity
of Nottingham we. passed for more
than hundred miles over roads built
by e. Purnell Hooley which were as
nearly perfect as 1t seems possible to
make them. In the environs Of Lon
don we rode for an equal distance
over roads which were we'll built, the
surface OF which had been treated un-
der the direction of Sir Herbert Pread.
All of these roads carried heavy traf.
Rc, including automobiles and traction
engines, yet they were perfectly
smooth and free from dust They ex-
empllfled in startling degree the eff
feet of careful construction and con-
slant maintenance, where stitch In
lime saves nine as opposed to the
laissez faire of some of the leading
thoroughfarcs OF our own country as
well rs around the French capital.
"The first international road con-
gross was productive Of great good
tho second international congress-,
which will be held IN Brussels two
years hence, promises greater thingsF