Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-03-07
SEEK TO ADVANCE
GOOD ROADS PLANS
Congressman Howell and Prof. u. r..
LYMAN Arrange for Distribution OF
Literature ON the Subject.

Hon. Joseph Howeu. Ctah's repre-
sentative az Washington, y. g.. and
Prof Richard r. Lyman Of the depart
mcnt of civil engineering. University Of
Utah, have begun a rather vigorous
and extensive campaign in the interest
of good roads In the State Of Utah
Prof Lyman has prepared an article on
The Construction and Maintenance Of
Earth Roads" In this article 81 is
pointed out that pavements Of various
kinds and. in fact. gravel roads also are
so expensive that an extensive system
Of roads throughout the state Of any
one Of these cannot De constructed
The whole article IS an argument In
favor Of building roads of ordinary
earth. and keeping them in good repair
before any very general effort is put
forth 20 construct hard roads.
This article has been gotten out by
the experiment station of the UNIVERSE
ty of Utah in the form % bulletin
In Il the standard cross sections fNed
1y law by the last Legislature are given,
and drawings are also produced giving
the details OF constructing the King
road drag which is a cheap device. by
use Of which az a comparatively small
cost. earth roads can be kept nearly
always in good condition and the re-
maIudcr OF the time in fairly good con-
ditiou. Three thousand copies Of this
bulletin are to be distributed through
out the state for the purpose Of con-
vincing the people that this method Of
road construction Is that which should
bc adopted first
IN order to reinforce the arguments
set forth in the bulletin above mem
toned. Mr.. Howell has obtained 5000
copies of booklet issued by the de-
partment of agriculture. entitled The
Use OF the Split Log Drag on Earth
Roads, and this excellent paper Will
he distributed with the bulletin sent out
by the University Of Utah This gov
eminent pamphlet has been prepared
By Mr. -. Howard King Of the depart
meut OF public roads. who IL probably
the greatest expert on the use Of the
split log drag This article also cm-
phasizes the Importance Of maintain
ing the earth road In good condition.
70 shows that In actual practise a road
maintained with the split log drag rs
INDN Only hfIN NAAAfHNAlls anu h'NlI aAAtH
ly hard. but that IL also reduces the
quantity OF dust which accumulates on
the road. Concerning this matter the
bulletin says:
"Clav. when mixed with water and
thoroughly worked, becomes remark
ably tough and imperviOus to water. II
compacted I'M this condition IL becomes
extremely hard Another valuable re-
suit Of dragging Is the reduction Of
dust for the particles of clay adhere
20 teuaciously that there is but little
wear when the surface is smooth. Dust
on an earth road Is due TO the break
ing up under traffic Of the frayed and
upturued edges Of ruts and hoof prints
n the surface Is smoothed after each
rain and the road dries hard and even.
no edges are exposed to crushing, and
tho only dust which forms Is that due
TO the actual wear Of the road surface.
Those who are interested In this
movement expect 20 he able 90 turn the
attention n the good road enthusiasts
20 the earth road, and they hone that
in the course of q very few years. an
excellent system Of smooth hard. dry
highways OF earth win he constructed
reaching into every part Of the State
OF Utah This Is a thing they believe
can be easily attained, while they are
convinced that efforts put forth TO build
extensive road systems In n more ex-
ponsive way win only result In dis
couragcment and final failure.