Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1910-01-12

GETTING THE GRADE READY FOR STONE
From Good Roads Magazine. New York;
same principle can be adopted in the |
simple turnpiking of road as that |
which will have to be employed in the |
most expensive construction that we |
are called upon to build today.
The first principle TO follow in every |
case is to properly drain the section OF
road to be improved, after which you
then take up the question of suh-grade,
or foundation upon which to build
your road ! have found the best ma
terial with which TO construct a sub
grade is sand or gravel. DlsinteGrated
rock, with an admixture of light loan,
makes n capital sub-grade.
Sprink.ing the sand before rolling,
using a light roller before using the
steam roller or tightening the roller
by relieving the boiler OF one-half its
water capacity is n great assistance IN
flrming the road, as the sand will not
then creep before the roller. thus max
/ ing the sub-grade firm. A little sub
soil placed on top of the sand is
very good practice. This will prevent
the material from being pushed ahead
of the roller, and it will make a good
sustainment for the stone or gravel
If something is not done to make
sandy foundation firm it will shift.
Sighting the sub-grade is sometimes
practiced by contractors. with the result
that they do not gain anything, for the
contractor has to pay in the end an in
creased expense owing TO the fact that
there will be a greater shrinkage in the
stone.
The wisest contractor is the man VINO
will spend more time with his 10 cents
an hour help in forming the sub-grade
and thereby require less stone or gray
ell and other incidental expenses. This
is often the reason why the tonnage
of stone per mile has been largely ex
ceeded over the original estimate o.
the contractor. This is very easil,
demonstrated by taking the cost OF tn
stone per ton. with freight. the hau
from the cars, the time consumed II
applying the stone on the road, TO sa.
nothing about the expense OF watering
and rolling required to get the roa
into n perfect bond-firm and unyielo
ing.
v
the road better by reason of the fac
that more stone has been usedT Nc
at all. This would be true If un
form depth of stone were on the roa'
But ii is an intermittent depth.
some places there may be four incht
of stone. while in other places thei
NAV be eight inches. The influence
the roller is not uniform where II
sub-grade is not sufficiently hard M
firm. Wherever there is an interim
tent depth of stone the road Will q
yeIoD n weakness because the pressu
OF the roller on the road has not be-
uniform.
You must have a good, well bui
substantial foundation rs we'll us
good surface-a roof to your road.
do not and never have believed tn
the surface OF the road can ever
come an accomplished fact until Il
all important and necessary adjunct
q GOOD road-the foundationiS tax
care of.
Antedating the surface must co
directness to your road. then the
duction OF these grades to minimu
then the question or drainage.
these the most important IS under {
surface drainage. after which cor
the question of surfacing. the least
n portant of all things connected
road building You want directness
your road to shorten the distance