Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-11-30

good roads, intends to improve this par
ticular road in the future. On leaving
Charlotte we soon came to a small ferry
which might well be replaced with a steel
bridge over the Catawba river.
49, CASTOR county, North Carolina. The
roads through this county are principally
dirt roads with a little macadam. Upon
leaving Bessemer City, new location
was found over a very steep HILL and evil
dence was abundant that Bessemer City
township is entitled to recognition for
what - has done on, its roads. Deep ruts
and larW fills were noted which has re-
quired an expenditure of some consider
able amount of money this season.
a. Cherokee county, South Carolina. A
convict gang was noted grading the earth
roads .gas nUrtF' -- af' a.
IS. spartanburg county, South Carolina.
This county has some excellent macadam
and dirt roads. They have done much
grading which is in good shape with the
exception that the shoulders are rather
steep toward the bitches. The width OF
these dirt roads, which have been well
graded, should be not less than 20 feet,
and preferably 30 feet so that when they
are surfaced with macadam or sand-clay
! the road, which makes them more diff
cult to pass than are those built in "V''
shape which would serve the purpose of
drainage quite as well provided side
bitches and culverts are built. The Steep
ness of this road over the mountain viii
deter a great many people from travelling
it, and the construction of a well-graded
road. which we. believe feasible, would
result in saving in the cost of trans
pcrtation.
20. Jefferson county, West Virginia,
wins a distinction from the fact that
this section of the route is a free pike
built Of limestone, while in adjoining
counties on either side the toll sys-
tenn is still in force The road through
Jefferson county, while good. could be
much improved by building concrete
culverts to carry water across under
the road. In this connection 1t may be
suggested that reliable information and
advice concerning this class of work
could be obtained from the director Of
the office Of public roads. Washington.
D. c., and in this locality the concrete
culvert is strongly recommended.
CRUDENESS ON VALLEY PIKE.
81. Continuing through the Shenan-
doah valley, filled with historic inter
est, we found toll pixies built of lime
stone with remarkably good road build
ing qualities. We do not pass from
this valley without calling attention to
the crude methods of the road build
ers Here we find miles of coarse
broken stone laid loose in the center
Of the road unrolled, no fine materials
such as stone screenings or sand or
there will be room for dirt road on each
side This question of width Of road will
also apply to all counties that are inn
proving their dirt roads, and Guilford
county, North Carolina, is referred to as
a practical example of this method.
GREENvfBLE COUNTS WORK.
Sc. Greenville county South Carolina,
has done much work grading through the
county. The roads are fairly wide and
the grading has been well done. The To-
cation of these roads, however are sub
ject to some comment Many hort
curves and crooks are noted and the
alignment OF the roads in this county
could be much improved by Strengthening
some of the curves
81. The grading of any first-class road
is in the majority Of cases only a moder-