The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-03-03
BETTER
Roads Being Constructed All
Over Ohio
According To Report Of High.
way Department
Different Counties Have Dif.
frrent Roads
But Brick Paved The Bet
For Durability
State Aid Is Stimulating Road
Building

The sixth annual report of the state
highway department of Ohio for the
year 1910 has been sent out to the
engineers of each county. This book
contains reports from each county
which build state aid roads last year.
The law has been amended so that If
any county or counties do not make
application for their share that
amount can be apportioned among
the counties which do make applica-
ton. Any county not making applica-
tion simply helps other counties to
build their roads. The report shows
that more money is being appropri-
ated each year by the state to help
the counties build roads. In 1906
| $4,000 were appropriated and in 1910
it had raised to $55S,654.32. Each
county making application receives
the same amount.
The roads constructed are of var
ious kinds, but more counties use the
water bound macadam roads. These
are made Of coarse crushed stone for
the foundation, covered with screen
ings then with the powdered stone
Water is poured on this which causes
the whole to cement. Some counties
use gravel and some are building
with the regular paving brick. This,
of course, Is more expensive than the
other kinds in the first construction,
but 1t is claimed it is the cheaper in
the long run. Other roads have to be
almost constantly repaired at a great
cost to the taxpayers. Some of the
water bound macadam roads have to
be repaired the next year after their
construction while the brick roads
| are as lasting as the paved streets, or
even more SO as they do not have SO
much traffic on them. Another fac
tor in favor of the brick road is that
automobiles do not injure them as
they do the gravel and stone roads.
Portage is one of the counties that
is building its country roads with
paving brick. Cuyahoga is another
county.
The report for 1910 demonstrates
that the standard for road building,
like other improvements, is constant
ly rising. What would have been con.
sidered a good road few years ago
would today be considered a very
| noor avouca of ON iYnnrouaD,ont IIar
rison and Pike counties last year
experimental with solid concrete
roads on a portion of the highway
which overfiows. This, like the brick
paving, costs more at first but will
not require the repair that the other
roads do. This is the greatest ques
tion the department has to contend
with, the cost of maintenance after
the road has been constructed.
Teh Plymouth and Shilor road in
Plymouth and Cass townships, Rich
land county, was constructed by state
aid. This road is of water bound ma
cadam and is 2.32 miles long. The es
timated cost was $1S,167. The state
, paid over $4,000 on this road. Rich
land county has not nearly so muci
; improved roads as other counties bu
she seems to be waking up to the nee
} ly since the people of the rural dis
tricts are some days deprived of thei
mail because the postman canno
make his rounds. 1t is to be hopet
that when this county gets to worl
in improving her highways she will
insist on having the very best. Their,
is an agitation for brick paved road
as they are destined in the light o
what has been done to be the coming
road. Though their first cost is NOR
than other makes they do not requir
= the repairs that other roads do. Whel
{ a county has brick paved road it ha
. the satisfaction Of enjoying the fines
4 highway to ride over and does no
y have to worry over the cost of main
!, tenance. The state aid always stimu
2 lates the county to build more higf
ways as the property owners in on
part Of the county do not relish tn
idea Of seeing those of another Sc,
: tion enjoying better roads than the
have. They also want to have a be
! ter road than the other fellows have
u which is constantly raising the stant
, ard fiom the old dit road to tn
: brick paved modern highway.