The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1910-07-28
DUTIES and QUALIFICATIONS
OF ROAD ENGINEER.
Editor County Record

Woulu say llidt SoIioioei' -"
re1uisite, drainage should be had
thoroughly, and inasmuch as ones
e ,e alone cannot tell the grade, why,
get a reliable level of some kind and
locate the best outlet. Again, this
should give sufficient data from
(which to calculate to find out just
what the work should cost, and in
letting contracts would be a safe
guide to spend the money by and
not by a matter of guess-work. Don t
try to get a deeper ditch the first
year than the money will permit, but
forgoodness' sake establish the drain,
if you don't get but six inches deep
in the low places, and let the water
go. If this is once done, then every
year eepen the grades by any help,
for tn N they could not work wrong
as the do now for the grade is then
established, and in course of time we
could expect to see the good results
of starting right.
Please don't plough sand into the
road, but plough it out to one side,
then get the sub-scil from the mid
die of road-bed with the plough and
s.rape to the opposite side. If in
need of more clay, why, dig it right
here and be sure to make grave
for the sand, because it must be
gotten rid of, and by burying it IN
the middle of the road it makes an
excellent filler and acts as an under
drain for the road. The Lords plan
for under-drains is made in this way
AID it is everlasting.
Now, we have the material, sand
and clay, before our eyes, and by the
use of good judgment, ordinarily
two to one,a finely prepared bed can
be built that will not need anything
but a split-log drag to keep it up. Ut
course one can see how much sand is
needed before he begins building,
and if any to spare, throw it in the
ditch first and get it out of the way.
Now, don't cry, money out, y
wien so many people who keenly
feel the need of this work are will
ing 20 help by supplementing with
their means in their respective sec
tons by hauling clay, if not to be
had otherwise. We know good roads
mean good morals.
know there is lots to do IN our
large county, therefore, rush the
work. Don't let a man get out OF
the gang that will ever incline to go
back. | believe in being humane, but
| also believe in punishment for
crime. ! want to see the plough run
like a good farmer does his ploughs
wlen grass and rain are both on
hand until some of the apparently
bDttomless holes that greatly handi-
cap travelling by road are leveled
once more, and then kept drGgye@
Excuse me, but since have been
d,ing livery business with automo-
biles ! have never yet had them in
the ditch except in the middle of the
road. l frequently drive over to
Florence county and the difference is
Just all and this should not be. We
can if we will" So let US will
and elect somebody that can.
AS to bridge work, would say, re-
place small ones with tiling, and our
engineer should be able to calculate
the transverse strength of beams
and the tensile strength of rods, so
he could get up specifications for the
work to the greatest advantage on
size of timbers. For instance, when
timber was cheap a few years ago
it did not make a difference in the
use of a 12x12 where a lOX12 was
o K; but the commercial prices OF
the Two sizes now are so different
that when the 10xl2 is strong
enough, why, don't spend any money
adding strength to an anvil
Sometimes these sizes are to haul