Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1911-02-02
ROAD MATRRTaL.

GOOD fOann uuv0eAtoB are nOtuhh9
numerous meetings and are discuss
ing the methods Of constructing and
Of maintaining Fcads and B. p. Dalton
OF the University Of Kansas offers
the following suggestions:
In sections Of the state where
suitable rock ID abundant the problem
ID simple one. since farmers believe
that a rock road to the town where
they trade would be paying invest
ment for them. In some portions Of
our state the problem is more diff
cult, because road metal Of a good
grade 10 hard to obtain. Under these
circumstances the man on whom
falls the cost thinks the expense VI
a rock read would he too great. In
many cpses he contents himself with
the dirt road and the King road drag.
However. conditions may mot DO
as serious as imagined. 1t is mot
necessary to have tho best grade q
stotc 20 construct a road taat Will
give good service. For examT . the
government built a rock roUd twenty
years ago from Haskell Institute to
the city limits Of Lawrence. The
stone with which 1t was built was
only fair road metal. The rock was
made twelve inches thick at the CEN
ter, and nine inches thick at the
sides after being rolled. Since It's
construction not one dollar has been
spent on It for repairs, in spite OF
the fact that the fuel and supplies
used at the institute for an average
Of seven hundred pupils have been
hauled over this road. Although at
the present time It is badly rutted
in places. still the ruts are wide
and smooth. so that It wet weather
the road is far superior to dirt
road.
frequently gravel or rock Of In
ferior quality Is available, and could
be used for the bottom portion Of
the road. In some cases 1t may even
be used for the surface and give
fairly good results.
The question may be asked. how
can a person tell anythine tb.ui a
material without building Sc 'tlon o.
road with 1t. It Is true that the best
tsrt is to give It . trial in road.
But there are laboratory tests which
can be msdc and the results COM
pared with the results Of similar tests
On stone of known quality. This
gives a fair idea OF how the stone will
act in the road.
One test, called the abrasion test,
is made to represent as nearly as
possible the grinding action OF the
wheels on the road. A second test
for the same purpose Is called the
hardness test. Another ca'le'l The
impact test. is made to represent as
closely as possible the action OF the
horses when striking the metal in
the road. Another test Is called
the concentration test. A small guam
tity of the stone Is mixed with water
and ground into thick paste. This
paste is made into brlquetes, which.
after being thoroughly dried, are
broken. This test shows how well
the stone will bind together.
II the stone will not answer for
the surface, it may be possible to
use It in the base, and thin coat
ing Of good road metal may be ship
ped in for the wearing surface with
little expense.
The University Of Kansas has q
complete laboratory for making these
tests free Of charge to- the people
Of the state II sent with freight pre-
paid. ANY city. township or county
Wishing to have tests made, may do
20 by making application to Dean F.
o. Marvin. Lawrence, Kansas, for
the blanks and instruction as to how
to collect the samples.