Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1909-12-10
PROPOSED CHAIN OF FINE
ROADS

ROADS
Resident Engineer Butler of the
state highway commission, who has
been in Spokane three weeks pre-
pairing for the work of his depart
ment toward lettering the roads of
eastern Washington, is an enthusiast
tic good roads boomer. He wants to
see the counties and states bend their
energies toward good roads in con-
certed effort. Scattering efforts can
not be as effective as united action,
he says, and the highway commits
sioner hopes to interest the entire
state in the plans that have been
formed for the pushing of good roads
| throughout the state.
Mr.. Butler. speaking of the plans
for the coming year said:
THE state highway department ex-
poets great results during the COM
| ing year. The plans are comprehen-
sive in their scope and lay especial
emphasis on those roads which will
| form part of the important thorough
| fares of the state.
Plans Network of Roads
THE plan includes among other
things the establishment of series
of stretches of macadamized road
which will ultimately be joined to
form a first-class road nearly encircl-
ing the state. The general scheme
which is being worked out by the
state engineers consists in the loca-
ton of a road from Colville through
Spokane, thence south through the
Palouse valley taking in Colfax,
Pomeroy and Walla Walla, thence
over the most feasible route to the
couver. From this city the way to
| Tacoma and Seattle lies through
Kalama and Chehalis and by way of
Olympia. When completed this Will
be an ideal road, one that will be
open to traffic the entire year.
In building a road like the one
it is to be built for all time, hence
the Importance of getting the best
location possible. 1t has been sal d
that the streets of Boston were origin
ally located by wandering calf. OF
course, we have not the calf to con-
tend with, but it may be said truth
roads which do not follow the sec
tion lines can be traced to the Indian
trails. Of the two, the calf m ade the
poorer engineer, but while the paths
and trails were suitable to the needs
of the calf and the Indian modern
civilization needs roads which have
been located with more than the point
in view of getting to drinking water
or the best hunting grounds.
THE first point is to start at some
place and get somewhere. Then
comes the consideration of how best
to connect the two places AS the
straight line is the shortest distance
between two points, it would seem
that the best road would be the one
nearest approximating to a straight
line. But here enters another con-
sideration, that of grade.
Grade is Important
The saying that a chain is as
srong as its weakest link can be ap-
piled to road by saying that road
is as good as its steepest grade. The
primary point is how big a load
you can haul. The answer does not
depend on the length of the road,
but on the steepest grade in its en-
tire length. This point is so evident
that it needs no explanation. So we
have to combine this with the pre-
ceding and say that the best road
between two places is the one which
has the least maximum grade and
most nearly approximate a straight
line. But road to be useful must
admit of travel the year round.
This brings us up to the next
point. The road that is to be used
the entire year must be open the en-
tire year. 1t plainly can be seen that
the time when roads are most needed
is when the weather is worst. So our
conclusions again must be modified
to read: The road which has the
least maximum grade, which most
nearly approximates straight line
and which is open the entire year.
These points are the ones guiding
the state engineers in the location
of these most important thorough
fares. 1t is of primary Importance
! To avoid nradn nrcnsiI