The Republican journal., 1909-07-29
ucerning Road Building.
.,oties Which Are Prepared to Spend
Nancy For Road Building And Road
u,intaining Should First Learn What
ryres of Highways Are Best Suited to
r,,4ic And Climatic Conditions.

tyres VI ihSh"oyS AT DSSl SuitSu W
r,,fic And Climatic Conditions.
DISTINCTION, D. c., July 26th. Logan
r,aer Page, Director of the Office of
s,55c Roads of the U. S. Department
\ agriculture, has appeared before
r.ts Legislatures and county boards in
,1ous sections of the country during
4. mast few months in response to invi-
Inns to tell what methods are best for
I..nlng funds for road construction
a how the roads should be maintained
Ian they have once been secured.
NJ the present time there are two
,o.,pal methods of raising funds for
sse purposes, but Director Page be-
.,., that before plans are set on foot
r. ,ar-ing funds, much should be said
,,.rIpg the manner in which such
1.s should be expended. If the voters
l2 unty show readiness to spend a
,ryraus sum in improving their roads,
s r paramount Importance to them to
h f-tertain what class of roads should
/. a.s.ructed.
rlruld not be assumed that simply
.tse- county owns quarries from
Er- .rap or limestone rock can be Sc
~4- HAT the expensive macadam road
mi a.cessarily be built. The qualif-
.1on. of any rock cannot be definitely
silr4 upon until laboratory tests have
-- 3D. Much money has been al
.r, roWn away in this country, how
er the construction of rock-sur-
-t~ais; those having the construc-
nharge neglecting to call in the
n..s of expert chemists, and using
m italy unsuited to their traffic or
rsue conditions. In many, many
..s Inc results were disastrous, the
eg, 1uickly raveling and going to
,.t, p4cause the cementing value was
liking
setnty which shows sufficient prog
50 90 hond itself in a liberal amount for
NJ uutpose of securing improved roads
sud Keep its money intact until its
fcers lave learned exactly what class
lnal< will best meet its requirements;
rs. pc of road it is best qualified to
instruct and what it can best afford.
l.s acts can be secured through the
B Of the National Government, the
1c If Public Roads standing ready to
dr. watuitous advice and to supply
G5 Highway engineers who are quail
tell what type of highway would
IS let that county's requirements
8 no demonstrate those decisions by
q sing the building of stretches of
a5 ighways, after which local off
as nay take pattern.
ND wake State and county officials
e showing the liveliest apprecia-
n .ae results which follow visit by
ss. I,ful men, and the demands for
.@ rvices are so heavy that it is
& .e for Director Page to meet
a -aan 20 per cent of the requests
.r- led in his office.
Tna county officers learn to appreci-
e.. TACT that road building is an art,
.:e v.,i rely more and more upon ex-
H vice and scientific demonstration,
/, r-n they have learned what class
. is desirable, they will construct
-a a then guard them.
.Er lies one of the most important
American highway questions.
g= us build as good roads as English
-so Frenchmen, but having done so,
f. zl contented with their efforts
let ach passing breath of air, speed
f~mobile, or drenching rain blow
wash the road surface away.
IT. Countries of Europe, where the
oh perfect roads are the pride Of
Il ms and the envy and admiration
ug Americans, most jealous care
1s.antly given; a careful day-by-day
I2+e on is made and every depression
gs Y filed and all inequalities rolled
4rped.
To rrquisites, therefore, confront the
41ty lpervisors at the outset-fi first to
PERTAIN what roads would be most
,'ab.a to that particular section, and to
sane for funds to eXpend in their
f1en8nce after completion.
,sese are vastly important, and the
Ion s very small percentage of i'm
1g-c roads is due largely to failure to
aI>ideration to them. Millions of
-g nave been wasted in building
als which local conditions made i'm
saroie and out of all cost proportion to
g'coulty's revenue.
here are exceptions to all rules, how
@ and Pike County, Alabama, stands
Offering exception to the usual
struction blunder. There the county
>als had planned to expend large
ssln The building of gravel roads.
W. L. Spoon, United States Superin-
Flint of Road Construction, being
to make an inspection Of the coun-
road possibilities, learned that 700
's' OF important routes needed i'm
9ement. He figured that the cost of
H. roads would be $1,000 mile
a4 a sum greater than the county
be- bonded for. Conditions, how