Fort Pierce news. (Fort Pierce, Fla.) 190?-1920, 1910-03-04
ROAD MATERIALS DISCUSSED
Government Expert Gave an In
teresting Address Saturday.

VINO SpenU ldSC week IN OJ Gucle county
with the road bond trustees looking up
road material for use in hard surfacing
St. Lucie county's roads, delivered a
most interesting lecture on the subject
of road construction in the Improve
ment Club hall Saturday afternoon,
aud gave valuable information regard
ing our own material
While the attendance was very small
the audience was very enthusiastic and
each was anxious for all information
possible,
Mr.. Winslow began by saying that
there was no such thing as permanent
road surface and that in the construc-
ton OF roads the cost of maintenance
should be seriously considered before
any material was decided upon. In this
connection he said that the roads near
est the travel centers should be wider
and of heavier surface than those far
Their away, thus reducing the cost OF
maintenance,
He also insisted that road building
was altogether dependent on local con-
ditons and the available material. He
then launched forth into an interesting
discussion of the materials found here.
AS for the she II road, he said he knew
the people of this section were PreJu-
diced against them, but that the she'll
roads to be found around here were not
scientifically constructed, and therefore
not fair test of the material.
Mr.. Winslow said he had found good
deposits of mari in the vicinity OF Vero,
and that a mixture of this with sand,
making what is termed a mari sand
road, would give as good surfacing ma
terial as could be found anywhere. He
also gave as an estimate OF the cost
that it would be about $500 per mile.
The mixture of the sand and mari would
be two parts of sand to one of mari, or
four inches Of mari mixed with eight
inches Of sand and thoroughly blended,
the mari filling all the voids OF the sand
, and making solid mass like cement
and the surface would then be about
eight inches. In his opinion the north
, river road could be built of this.
AS for the west road he had hoped to
. find sufficient clay to build a sand-clay
: road, which he considered the ideal
road of the south. This mixture Is
made on the same principle as the mari
sand road, and If, as conditions indicate
plenty of clay is to be found along the
route of the road, the cost would moi
exceed $500 per mile. He explained
that the sand thoroughly mixed with
the clay overcame the dryness OF the
sand and the slippery condition OF the
! clay and that wet or dry weather made
no difference on the road. This is the
/. kind of road he would recommend
wherever it could be built.
He further stated that no hap-hazaro
method should be employed, but thai
the hoard of trustees should secure the
services of first-class road engineer
and that all road building be let o'
contract. Mr.. Winslow then gave some
pertipent facts about good roads, anc
explained that land values we're not de
pepdent on the distance from marke
!. hut ON the time consumed in reachini
IT. and hauling the produce. de ass
mayed that fourteen-foot roads be built
especially near the travel centers.
Mr.. Winslow offered to try to answe
a any question and explain any pom
! winch the audience did not understand
! and he was kept busy for another hou
: answering the rapid-fre questions
= The enthusiastic seekers for informa
: lion. During these answers ne ans
stated that the government would 2
# any time make free tests OF ROAD nias'
! TAI sept into the department ana sen
= hack ! physical as we'll as chem'c'
it analysis. ,ara MI
I NJ Winslow remained here UNI
I, Toasaay. when he left for Palatka' az
aarine his stay he made some tes's
! he clay found on the west roac y
so him Tuesday morning and ne w
yerv enthusiastic over the qualiey
~ material, and insisted that u ~Ou
be 4 good Investment for the oo s,
snsod money looking up the clay cepo
"a IN that section. He also s'essu !. q.
,stbe trustees would make apphcas.',,
government road builder Mouas
sent here and make actual demons'r