Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1910-07-27
GOOD ROADS MEETING.
Conducted by Columbia Rec
ord's Good Roads Party. In
structive Address by
Government Expert.

those who attended the good roads
meeting Friday shat a greater mum,
Der were not present to hear the
most excellent address by Mr.. u.
Fl. Winslow, who, with Mr.
C. w. Norman, is making a toul
of the state in the interest of good
roads, being sent out in automobiles
by the Columbia RECORD: This pro
gressive newspaper, whose editor
and manager is Mr.. James A: HoFt,
will send it's, representatives into
every county, advocating improve
ment of the public highways. This
is a very praiseworthy undertaking,
and one that will result in lasting
good. The Records experts are SOW
ing good roads seed along their
route that will in time aid very ma
terially in ''leavening the whole
lqmH:H
Supervisor r. i. Aloultrie was
called to the chair, and he requested
Mr.. @. w, Norman to state the
purpose Of the meeting, after Will Oh
he introduced Mr.. d. II. Winslow, a
highway engineer, who is in the
employment of the national govern
ment. He is not theorist but an en-
.l.h - 4
giaeer Of large and varied practical
experience.
MI. Winslow first spoke of the
assistance that the government is
now giving in the matter of road i'm
proyement throughout 1.-THE entire
Country. Bulletins nnon every phase
and form Of road building are being
published and distributed free. a
testing department is maintained in
which stone and other road build
ing material is tested fsee. of cost.
The government will furnish men
to build a section of road in any
county as an object lesson, using
the e9gnty Foad-YoEking f9&rGe..
Actual cost Of the building Of the
piece of road will be accurately kent
Sc as TO enable tAe citizens OF q
county to estimate cost Of road I'M
.proyement under local conditions,
The speaker stated that the north,
ern and Some southern states have
for sixteen years been invoking
goysrRmept gid along the line
suggested but that sout4 Carolina
has been asleep and has not asked
fer II.
In the matter of direct %approprlar
ton Of money for road building,
South Carolina would be but little
benefited. Mr.. Winslow showed by
actual figures that were national
aid distributed on a basis of pon9s
lation or total mileage this state
would receive from only one to two
per cent of a hundred million dollar
appropriation. He said that a dis
tribution of aid on basis of popular
ton would Be manifestlE unjust be-
cause the sparsely settled rural dis
triets stand in greatest need of road
improvement. Southern Congress
men have been active in their efforts
to secure direct appropriation but
80 far they have been, unsuccessful.
During the last session of congress
ls good roads bills were introduced
but all weFe killed:
Mr.. Winslow said the greatest
problem in road building in Edge
field county is the matter of grade,
which makes roads expensive to
maintain after being constructed.
He said that the velocity Of the
water that runs over a road, and not
the volume, is what Injuries the road
most. Steep grade increases the cost
of transpoptatiqn beesqss II limits
the hauling capacity. Besides the
increased cost Of drawing a load UP
grade, the wear and tear upon vag-
on, harness and team is greater 60,
ing down hill. than when travelling.
on level road.
In the construction Of bridges,
MI. Winslow advised short spans
and broader abutments. The after.
can be constructed Of stone, rsaqir-
ing no repairs, while the former
must he repaintad and repaired from
time e. time.
He favors a state highwaY COM
mission, whose duty would be the
sending Of consulting engineers out
in the counties to confer with the
supervisors and lay out new roads,
etc. Mr.. Whslow emphasized the
Importance of employing Highway
engineer to plan bridges ana survey
roads. An ordinary surveyor is not
equipped for this special work. He
cited severa! instances il WHICH
large sums had been saved in road!
construction through the employ
ment of experienced road builders
He advised the building of con,
crete bridges instead of wood OF
iron. Railroads throughout the coun'
ty have learned the valie of con
crete and are using it almost eXs'
clusively. Abbeville county IS sup