The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-16
NJ CORMACK TALKS
ON ROAD BUILDING
Two Willowy Substances
Would Solve Problem
FAMILIAR WITH ROADS
ebert Inspector Another Suggestion.
Farmers Point Out Roads Which
Need Repairs-Beware of
"Black Snake"
FAMILIAR WITH ROADS

The present method of construction
of highways is not as good as could
be employed, according to several state
ments made by persons interested In
good road conditions for this county
and the entire state yesterday.
The present method of constructing
roads of Stag, then placing a soft sub
stance, commonly ebert, upon that foun-
dation, Is not conducive to the long
life of the highways, according to the
general impression. 1t is said that if
a hard substance is provided as a bed,
then soft ebert or other materials are
placed on top, this sandwiched ma
terial is quickly worn by rough wagon
wheels grinding the soft substance be-
tween the iron wheels and the hard
Stag foundations.
Fl. e. Mccormack, who is said to be
more familiar with Alabama roads than
perhaps any other individual in this
city, and who is general manager of
the Pratt Consolidated, said yesterday:
Twenty years ago the old Cahaha
Valley road was constructed of a soft
clay foundation. ebert was then
placed on top. This proved to be a
velvety foundation and when traffic
moved over the construction no wear
or tear on either the road or equip
ment resulted. That is to say: If two
soft willowy materials are used in the
construction the giving powers of the
roadbed prevents the wearing away of
material. I find that where this road
was built over 20 years ago it is as
good now as when first constructed
In Missouri, where l formerly resided,
the roads are constructed on this plan
and consequently they sbrag of good
roads out there.
I'm this county / have it that ebert
is placed on a Stag foundation, which,
VIII en- moved over by hard wagon
wheels, Is cut because the Stag will
not give and as a consequence the wear
and final deterioration is quick
II would be glad to see this theory
tried once as an experiment, as l be-
lteve 1t is one of the best solutions
to this bad road agitation. The coun-
ty roads are pretty bad but we cannot
lay any blame at the door of Tho Board
of Revenue"
1t was also suggested yesterday that a
ebert and Stag inspector be employed.
While no definite allegations were made,
it is said the character of ebert in SER
vice here is inferior.
The employment of a ebert engineer, it
Is said, would go far toward securing for
the county the best obtainable ebert and
would obviate the claims made that the
poor roads are results of inferior ma
terials used.
e. D. Hicks, farmer, who has resided
in this county GA years, said yesterday:
The. roads are washed very badly out
our way. 7 live near Porter mines, and
I have been farming in that section since
the war. At Low Gap hill serious re-
suits have been caused by rains and l
would not recommend fast travelling over
that spot The same conditions prevail
at Camp Branch hill and Slant hill. The
bad spots are caused from no other reason
but bad construction. The road gangs
gone there. place a little ebert on the
road and that is the last. The rains come
along and the ebert, which cost much to
place, is washed off into some farmers
field or Is carried down the side of the
road to fill up a branch.
90 Black Snake road, the Mulga-Short
Creek road and others out my way are in
bad shape. Automobile folks had better
steer clear of Black Snake road
Henry Harrington who lives near Bes-
sic mines, and who Is a farmer, said:
THE old Warrior road needs repairing.
The bad weather of the past few days has
played havoc with a long stretch of this
pike. l believe If the repairs are made
now the cost will not be great. How
ever, If the present gullies are allowed to
In their condition the future cost
of repairs will be considerably greater
than would result now. The road is di-
rectly In line with Birmingham and In
service almost constantly. This is one
complaint which should receive immediate
attention.
Mobile Pike Desired
DIR. J. e. Dedman, president of the Au-
tomobile club. states that while good
roads are desired by ALL what he wished
and what is In the minds of the automo-
bilist constantly is pike from this city
to Mobile.
I'VE mapped out the Atlanta route in
fine shape" said Dr. Dedman. f'What we
now wish is a route to Montgomery and
Mobile. Let us get together and have a
big boosting trip to Mobile through the
country in automobiles. 1t will stimulate
trade, will bring us nearer to our neigh
bors in Mobile and will help in several
other ways. In this connection the map
ping out of a new route helps the gem
eral scheme for the betterment of our