Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-12
MODEL ROADS At CORN SHOW
Uncle Sam Shows the Best Way to
Prepare Country Roads.
GOVERNMENT STEAM ROLLER
Experiments Made In Different See
lions of the COuntry Demon
strnted at Exposition Now
in Progress.

In Progress.
Uncle sam is taking a deep interest In
road building and in the government eN-
hibit at the National Corn exposition now
In progress I'm this city, and has quite an
extensive exhibit on roads. There is a
large steam roller at work showing lust
how TO roll the roads and how TO prepare
them In various forms.
The office Of public roads was estab-
ltshed by the government for the purpose
Of collecting and disseminating useful In
formation in regard 10 road building. The
exhibit is intended to illustrate the work
OF this office, and is especially designed
to interest and instruct farmers and road
officials in proper methods Of road con
struction.
The exhibit consists Of a number Of
models built on the scale Of one and a
half inches to the foot and illustrates the
construction Of fifteen standard types OF
roads in use in various parts Of the United
states.
One OF the most important features of
the exhibit Is that which shows the use
OF asphalt, oil. tar and similar compounds
as dust palliatives and preventiYes, and for
the preservation OF macadam roads sub
iect TO fast automobile traffic, Thu eX-
hibit includes a miniature crushing plant
and steam roller in actual operation. as
well az a complete outfit Of earth-handling
machinery.
The model earth road illustrates the et-
fects OF good and poor drainage as well
as the benefits resulting from the use OF
road machines for construction and split
log drags for repair.
Models of Roads.
A model OF an oiled earth road shows
how this kind Of road is built and includes
a section OF old dusty road, another sec
ton where the road has been plowed and
ready for olling, another where the oil
has been spread on the plowed surface,
one where the oil and earth has been
mixed together ready for rolling and an
other section showing the finished road.
This method OF construction is adapted
especially to the far west and southwest
where asphaltlc oil can be easily secuted.
The sand-clay road model shows the
building OF a sand-clay road, and rSpreTl
sents a section Of old sandy road treated
with a mixture OF sand and clay. This
method Of construction is cheap and in
expensive and Is especially designed by the
office of public roads to meet conditions
in the southern and southeastern states,
where sand and clay are found in close
proximity.
Two models are used TO illustrate the
construction of gravel roads, one where
the gravel is placed and the foundation
prepared in the same manner as for a
macadam road and the other where the
gravel is spread on the prepared road
surface from ditch to ditch.
The Telford model rel r. sents a stone
road built with a foundation Of heavy
~ 80 80 adga 1angthVyiga ACROSS the
road and having regular macadam sur
face.
A special type of construction in use for
several years in Massachusetts. and
wi ich Is intended to take the place of
Telfurd construction is shown by another
model. This method Is called the v
shaped foundation road, on account of the
fact that the foundation slopes toward the
center instead of towards the sides. The
foundation is built of field boulders, or
any kind Of inferior rock available. II
is surfaced with crushed stone as in
macadam construction.
Burnt Clay Roads.
The burnt-clay model shows the various
steps taken in the building of this type
Of road. The burnt clay road was designed
by the office Of public roads for the
ANAHEIEnARBA aAAh UNIV NNASA - 49, @|F
try. which have an abundance Of gumbo
or buck-shot soil and where stone, gravel,
and other road materials are scare.
A model fourteen feet in length and three
feet in width illustrates the construction
Of the macadam road according to the
standard fixed by the office Of public
roads. This model shows the prepared
foundation, the first layer OF crushed
stone, properly rolled, second layer OF
smaller material thoroughly rolled, and The
finished surface sprinkled with water ana
thoroughly rolled with n steam roller. An
exact model of a steam roller Is in tp-
GRAFTON on this section OF the road.
Near the macadam road model stands
the miniature crushing plant with a quarry
face In the background. This model in
cludes crusher, elevator, screens and bins
for three sizes of stone. The crusher is
in actual operation.
On account OF the fact that fast auto
mobile traffic is injuring macadam roal Is
throughout the country the office Of public
roads has devoted considerable attention
to the study OF various substances which
can be used TO prevent dust and 10
preserve the surface of such roads. Fou.
models are devoted TO this subject. One
showing the surface treatment OF an OH
macadam road, one the penetration method
another the macadam sand-tar method,
while the fourth shows the Caldwell
method which is in extensive use in
England. Sections OF tar macadam road
built in Washington, u. c., in l~S72-2-J-5.
and which are still in use represent the
life Of this class OF construction
A series Of enlarged photographs. ar.
ranged on the walls shows roads and
bridges OF various types Of construction
throughout the United States.
Mr., NJ. o. Eldridge, who is in charge Of
The exhibit, will give illustrated lectures
in the biograph room on road building
These lectures win be gNen daily.
WATCH THE GEARS CLOSELY