Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-09-21

acreage $VdlueS, Wull6 those showing
low percentage have low acreage val
ues. While there are many factors,
such as quality of soil, the proximity
of farms to markets, and relative pop
ulation and wealth, which affect val
ues Of land the Improvement of the
roads constitutes a most important
factor in the enhancement of farm
values. Such values have been known
to advance on account of the improve
nent of the roads connecting the farm
ers with market towns. The improve
ment of roads in the Northwest is
largely in the hands of farmers. If
they can be brought to realize that
their land values may be increased
by intelligent cooperation in making
better roads, while they will at the
same time benefit by having good
roads over which to do business
then, surely, the era of such co-opera-
ton cannot be far off.
!. !. !.
A Washington Experiment Station
bulletin says that it is preferable to
have wagon act as a road-roller
rather than a road-destroyer. This
would be accomplished by the use of
wide-tired and narrow-tired vehicles,
but on soft ground the wide tire rolls
over and upon the surface, while the
narrow tire cuts through and destroys
the trackage. Many European coun-
tries have adopted the wide tire for
loaded vehicles. Austria requires a
France, tire from three to ten inches
wide; Germany, a tire at least four
inches wide. Every heavily-laden
wagon in France is regarded as road
maker, and many freight wagons have
rear axle fourteen inches longer than
the fore, so that the hind wheels run
in line just outside of the level
rolled by the fore wheel.
A Washington Experiment Station
bulletin, in discussing the benefits
accruing from reconstructing a Ger.
tain road on a shorter line, says there
is a saving of expense in annual main
tenance; in the time of travelling; in
the wear and tear of horses, shoes
harness and vehicles; and in the cost
of hauling; besides restoring to cult
walton 727 acres of land per mile
Besides this, authorities agree, and il
ought to be matter of common
knowledge, that from three to five
times as great load can be hauled
on hard, smooth surface as on a
yielding, rough one. This, if no other
consideration, should be an incentive
to farmers to exercise diligence and
intelligence in improving the roads
over which their business is conduct
ed.
The report of the Kansas Expert
ment Station, on the use of oil or
roads in that state, seems to warrant
greater use of oil in road construction
The experiment was tried on a quar-
ter Of mile of sandy soil, in October
1905. Several applications of oil seem
to have been made, and each app]ica
ton was followed by the harrow
After thus applying one gallon of oil
to each square yard, the soil seemed
saturated to a depth of from four tC
four and one-half inches. After the
final narrowing, heavy float was EN-
ployed to smooth the surface, when
work was suspended for week. Then
a twelve-ton roller was used until the
bed seemed thoroughly firm. The
road was closed for week and then
opened for traffic. While it was firm
it was not hard; but no injury result
ed from either heavy traffic or sharp
calked horses driven at rapid gait
Freezing in winter did not appear tC
affect it, and the oil coating seemed
to have the effect of keeping the I'M
DERIVING soil dry enough to prevent
serious heaving by frost. The follow
ing spring, a coat Of oil was applied
and this was lightly narrowed and
floated When the report was made
over two years later, the road was in
excellent condition. The grade was
slightly over an inch to the foot and
so we'll rounded that the rain water
quickly ran off.