The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-02-25
THE ROAD TO THOMAS
A Chance For the People West of
Town to Greatly Increase Their
Property in Value

The subject of good roads Is fore
ing its way into everybodys affairs,
and the time is ripe for people here
to give some attention to it. 1t has
been suggested that we make tri-
state road through Utah, Idaho and
Wyoming, and there are good reasons
why this should be done. There are
also proper reasons why we should
make good road In several direc-
lions from Blackfoot, and we suggest
trial section from Blackfoot to
Thomas this year because 1t Is one
OF the sections that receives the most
travel, and Is likely to continue SO.
on account of it's being connecting
link between town and the Carey
lands with their rapidly increasing
population.
Z Road Building Not Expensive
We suggest doing some grading,
and then using the split log drag to
keep the roadbed smooth and free
from ruts, and we venture the asser-
ton that 1t will be worth the cost
this year to the people living along
the road, besides being a means of
attracting travel that way, and en-
HANGING the value of their lands by
this process. It enhances values by
making it easier and cheaper to
transport produce and goods to and
from town, and every homeseeker
who goes over the ROAD will have q
more favorable impression of the To-
cality If the roads are fine, in con-
trast with bad impression if he has
trouble getting through when he is
looking over the country. The re-
suits will be immediate, both from a
useful and booster" point of view.
We are indebted to Richard s. Lyman
OF the University of Utah for valu-
able matter on road building given
below.
Cost of Roads
An ordinary macadam road two
rods wide costs about $4,000 per
mile; a tar macadam road about 49,
600 per mile; an asphaltum pave
ment some $4,000 per mile; a |
gravel road, covered with gravel one
foot deep, costs from $1,000 to S.
600 per mile, and the cost of con-
structing an earth road the same
width varies from $40 to 500 per
mile.
While the figures given are the
costs of constructing various roads
two rods wide, this occasion is taken |
to emphasize the fact that road six
teen feet wide is broad enough in
most country districts, while in
sparsely settled parts even narrower
roads will answer all actual needs
very well.
Ordinary Macadam
Ordinary macadam pavement is
composed of carefully selected stone
and gravel thoroughly rolled into
compact mass, with the material SO
graded that the coarsest stones are
on the bottom and the finer binding
Is on the top. Such road
way proved very satisfactory until
the general advent of the automobile.
In order to resist the digging or
scratching effect of the driving
wheels of high speed motor cars,
which is technically called the shear.
1t is necessary to use tar or some
other binding material for holding
The particles of stone more firmly to-
gether.
Tar Macadam
Tar macadam roads are construc-
ed the same as other macadam roads,
except that the top layers of broken
stone are covered with hot tar be-
'ore they are rolled into place.
Costs Compared
If $40 per mile be taken as the g
;ost of constructing an earth road
.wo rods wide, the cost of building r
me mile of gravel road will build s
ome fifty miles of earth road; one t
nile of ordinary macadam will build q
100 miles of earth road; one mile t
Il tar macadam will build $50 miles a
earth road; and one mile of asphalt
'avement will construct 600 miles c
# earth road. O