Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1910-07-27
GOOD ROADS MEETING.
Conducted by Columbia Rec,
ord's Good Roads Party. In
structive Address by
Government Expert.

those who attended the good roads
meeting Friday that greater num-
Der were not present to hear the
most excellent address by Mr.. ID.
H. Winslow, who, with MIR.
C. W. Moorman, is making a tour
of the state in the interest of good
roads, being sent out in automobiles
by the Columbia Record: This pro
gressixe newspaper, whose editor
and manager is Mr.. James A. HoEt,
will send it's representatives. into
eyary county, advocating improve
ment of the public highways. This
is very praiseworthy undertaking,
and one that will result in lasting
good. The Records experts are SOW
ing good roads seed along their
route that will in time aid very ma
terially in ''leavening the whole
lqmp:a
Supervisor r. j. Alonltrie was
called to the chair, and he requested
Mr.. @. w. Moorman to state the
purpose of the meeting, after viii oh
he introduced Mr.D. III. Winslow, a
highway engineer, who is in the
employment of the national govern
ment. He is not theorist but an en-
alsaeer af large and and varied yy'e!i practical
experience.
Mr. Winslow first spoke of the
assistance that the government is
now giving ,ip the matter of road i'm
proyement throughout 1.-THE entire
country. Bulletins nnon every phase
and form Of road building are being
published and distributed free. a
testing department is maintained In
which stone and other road build
ing material is tested free, of cost.
The government will furnish men
to build a section of road in any
county as an object lesson, Hslng
the county Foad-Yo,Ekiing y f2ree.
Actual cost Of the building Of the
piece Of road will be accurately kent
So astn enable the citizens or a
county to estimate cost of,road im-
proyement under local conditions,
The speaker stated that the north.
ern m and Some southern st ates have
for sixteen years been invoking
government gid along tha line
suggested but that 'Saath Carolina
has been asleep and has not asked
fer IL.
In the matter of direct approprlar
ton of money for road building,
South Carolina would be but little
benefited. Mr.. Winslow showed by
actual figures that were national
aid distributed Oh a basis of pony.
lation or total mileage this state
would receive from only one to two
per cent of hundred million dollar
appropriation. He said that a dis
trihution of aid on basis of popula-
ton would lie manifestlE unjust he
cause the sparsely settled rural dis
tripts stand in greatest need of road
improvement. Southern Congress
men have been active in their efforts
to secure direct appropriation but
so far they have been. unsuccessful.
During the last session of congress
1s good roads bills were introduced
but ali weFe killed:
Mr.. Winsl0W said the greatest
problem in road building in Edge
field county is the matter Of grade,
which makes roads expensive to
maintain after being constructed.
He said that the velocity of the
water that runs over road, and not
the volume, is what Injuries the road
most. Steep grade increases the o9st
of transportation beeaqss II limits
the hauling capacity. Besides the
increased cost Of drawing a load up
grade, the wear and tear upon wag-
on, harness and team is greater SO,
ing down hill than when travelling
on level road.
In the construction Of bridges,
Mr.. Winslow advised short spans
and broader abutments. The latter
can be constructed Of stone, rsquir-
ing no repairs, while the farmer
must be repainted and repaired from
time to,time.
He favors a state highwa? COM
mission, whose duty would be the
sending Of consulting engineers out
in the counties to confer with the
supervisors and lay out new roads,
etc. Mr.. Whslow emphasized the
Importance of employing a Highway
engineer to plan bridges anl survey
roads. An ordinary surveyor is not
equipped for this special work. He
cited several instances il which
large sums had been saved in in! road
construction through the employ
ment of experienced road builders.
He advised the building Of con-
crete bridges instead of wood or
iron. Railroads throughout the coun-
ty have learned the valae of con-
crete and are using it almost eX-
clusively. Abbeville county IS sup