The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-09-14

from which trap or limestone rock
can be secured that the expensive
macadam must be built. The quallf
cations of any rock cannot be definite
ly decided upon until laboratory
tests have becn held. Much money
has been almost thrown away in this
county. however, on the construction
of rock-surfaced roads. those halng
the construction in charge neglectlng
to call in the services Of expert chem
lists. and using rock totally unsulted
to their traffic or climatic conditions.
In many, many cases, the results were
disastrous. the roads quickly ravellng
and going to pieces because the ce-
menting value was lacking.
A county which shows sufficient
progress to bond itself in a liberal
amount for the purpose Of securing
improved roads should keep its money
intact until its officers have learned
exactly what class Of roads will best
meet it's requirements: what type OF
road is best qualified to construct and
what it can best afford. Those facts
can be secured through the aid OF the
National Government. the Office OF
Public Roads standing ready to give
orstuitous advice and to supply skill
ed highway engineers who are quail
fed to tell what type Of highway
would best meet that countv's re-
quirements and to demonstrate those
decisions BY supervising the building
of stretches Of model highways. after
which local officials may take pattern.
Wide-awake State and county off,
cials are now showing the livellest ap-
preciation of the results which follow
visit by these skilful men. and the
demands for their services are so
heavy that it is impossible for Dlrec-
tor Page to meet more than ~ per
cent. of the requests being filed IN his
Office.
When county officers learn to ap-
preciate the fact that road building
is an art. they will rely more and
more upon expert advice and scientific
demonstration. and when they have
learned what class of roads Is deSlr-
able. thew will construct them and
then guard them.
Therein lies one Of the most I'M
portant of all American highway
onestio3s. Americans build as good
roads as Englishmen or Frenchmen'
but Laving done so, they rest content
ed with their efforts and let each pass
ing breath Of air, speeding automo-
bile. or drenching rain blow or wash
the road surface away.
In the countries of Europe, where
the well-nigh perfect roads are the
pride cf the citizens and the envy and
admiration of visiting Americans
most Jealous care is constantly given;
a careful day-by-day Inspection Is
made and every depression Is quickly
filed and all inequalities rolled or
tamped.
Two requisites, therefore, confront
the county supervisors at the outset-
first to ascertain what roads Woulo Oe
most suitable to that particular Sec
ton, and to provide for funds to ex-
pend in their maintenance after COM
pletion.
Those are vastly important and the
Nations very small percentage OF lm-
rroved roads is due largely to fall
ure to give consideration to them
Millions Of money have been wasted IN
building roads which local conditions
made impracticable and out OF all
cost proportion to the county's reVe-
nue..
There are exceptions to all rules,
however, and Pike County, Alabama
stands as glittering exception to the
usual construction blunder. There the
county officials had planned to e1pend
Large sum in the building OF graVe'
roads.
W. L. Spoon, United States Super
intendent Of Road Constructlon' oe-
inc sent to make an inspection OF the
county's road possibilities: learned
that 700 miles of important routes
needed Improvement. He figured that
the cost of gravel roads would be
$4,000 a mile-plainly a sum greater
than the county could be bonded tor.
Conditions. however, were Ideal LOT