Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1910-01-26
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~ eeaeeao $4,000
Construction of GonntSy Highways
BY JAMES, u. HEAD, ESTnAYosossA NASHVILLE
During heSpastsw years nanyae2-
periments have beensmad con-
struct a roadway, at 9 reasonable
cost, that would Withstssa I'D sthelactioeln
of the elements, water heat and
frost, the impactsoSthe horses iron
shod hoofs, the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES the
wheels Of traffic, and the sgcking &C
ton Of the automobile tiFesin' with
drawing the emenfingsmateriaEsan
scattering it to the winds created by
the speed OF the machine itself And
while all Of these experiments lead
to the conclusion that heiuss OF some
oituminous binder is absolutely nee
sssary to meet these conditions. the
perfect roadway has rot 5es been ce-
vised.
In all these capc.:I,eE. there nave
been two radically different theories
as to the best method OF construct
Ing a roadway that would bind the
mineral particles together, afford
elasticity, and waterproof the surface
so as to make the roadway withstand
the action of the elements and the
strain of trafic-the one theory as
suming that mere density of struc-
ture would best accomplish this end.
and therefore advocating the use of
ane particles Of sandgso graded as,
with the bitumirous cement used, to
make, as nearly as possible, a solid
mass, depending. howeye-, almost eI-
clusively upon the cement used to
furnish the required hardness to
withstandsthe effect Of traffic. The
other theory clalmedtk greater sta
bility, and at the sametime greater
density. could be accomplished by the
use of different sizes ofsstone 50 grad
ed that the smaller would fill the
voids between the large, and thereby
permit the use of a softer cement, Civ.
Ing to the structure greater life and
elasticity, and at the same time af-
fording a better footholdslfor horses
ind preventing the ssitdias OF auto
mobiles.
But it Goes seeIltnat there must
be an intermediate method of con-
structing country roads, which will
combine the essentials ideas of the
more permanent forms of street con-
struction. without the expensive de-
tails necessaryefor Reconstruction of
that kind Of pavement, and ct the
same time meet the demands to which
line road may lie subjected. And it is
This form Of road construction that 1
desire to submit fo7 roar c,2sidera-
ticn.
First and foremost II road build
Ing, as in everything else. there must
be a good solid foundation properly
laid out andaconstructed, before any
thing worthy of being called a good
road can be commenced. Upon the
sub-grade properly graded and rolled
n foundation not less than five inches
Of stone, of practically uniform size,
not larger than two and q half inches.
Ehould be spread and thoroughly
rolled, and upon this surface there
should then be gpreadsenough crush
er screenings to fill the voids in the
surface of the lower layer. If larger
stones are dithey should be placed
IN layers at the bottom And if upon
his surface after thorough compress
sion there should belepreadt a blum
nous compound Of coal tarSdr asphalt
End varying sizes of crushed stone
mixed in such proportions as to give
The highest possible eegreee Of den
city, applied while hot, and before
cooling again cover this surface with
a coating Of bituminous cement and
one-quarter inch stone chips thor
oughly worked into this bItuminous
coating, a substantial, durable,
smooth, waterproof and elastic struc-
ture can be produced alta reasonable
cost, that will y s:hstand, not only the
automobile but the average country
traffic. be free from dust and afford
easy traction, with a good foothold
for horses. While more expensive
than the ordinary macada1n, such a
road can be built at much less cost
than asphalt, bitulithic, brick or any
form of block pavement which is used
in cities, and should be well within
the reach of any community desiring
to build 4 permanent and intelligent
system of good roads. tIfsonly a few
miles OF. this character of;road was
built each year; in q comparatively
short time a good system Of roads
would be established aldsthe desire
created in every communicate follow
the same example. From Good
Roads Magazine.
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