The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1912-01-12
New Concrete Road.

hua county, gives ueunlIe inquiries
regarding the expenditure of
funds on the new concrete road
from Meridian to Boise, as we'll as
a detailed account of the method,
manner and progress of construc-
tion, says the Boise Statesman.
The report has been submitted
to the county fathers for their
approval, an action which will
probably be taken within a day or
two. The bulk of the report is
here given:
"This report covers the work
done on the Boise Meridian road
from September Is to December
30, 1911. l am pleased to say that
the boards decision to adopt the
concrete road as a standard of
construction for Ada county will
be amply justified by the results.
Among the most important
changes devised in the methods of
construction is the employment of
a projecting plate at the expansion
joint, plan which will insure
greater strength and which erad-
icates the possibilities of wear
upon the joints, resulting in an
even and uniform surface. An
increase in the depth of the work,
making it seven inches in all, and
a decrease of two inches in the
amount of crushed rock at the
base. are also changes decided
upon. / have made a careful
study of these and am confident
that they will add greatly to the
wearing surface of the road.
"My whole aim has been and
will be to provide the people of
Ada county with durable, per-
manent road, at cost; and | be-
Iieve that the concrete road as
devised and now being built by
us will accomplish this purpose,
and that it is the coming rural
high way. 1t is low in ultimate
cost, pleasing to the eye, smooth,
dustless, and affords excellent
traction for all types of vehicles
This concrete road is attracting
the attention of county COM
missioners, engineers and private
citizens throught the country
The eastern states have adopted
concrete as che standard construc.
ton for all their highways, and
are securing good results.
I'm the short time that we have
been working / have built up an
efficient organization of workmen,
specializing wherever possible
using one crew OF grading, an
other on concrete, another on the
crusher, ETC., believing that as the
men become familiar with theil
particular work, more and better
work is accomplished. Merit ii
the sole consideration that keeps
a man 'on the job
"My work is in the open, where
it can be seen and inspected, and
am contented to let the result o
my labor speak for itself.
"There is no desire or intention
to inconvenience the travelling
public any more than is abso
lutely necessary in the prope
execution of our work. 1t is ah
solutely necessary, however fo
us to close for a considerabl
period the road on which we ar
laying concrete, in order to Civ
it time to properly set and harder
In keeping with this plan, W
provide temporary road aroun
the work wherever feasible; an
when conditions are such the
this cannot be done because ,
the narrowness of the road {
other causes, We mark the bel
way around by signs, and at nigf
display red lantern at all turn
Our watchmen are also instructe
to inform the travellers of the bel
and shortest detour.
"We are threatened with a sho
supply of gravel in our presel
pit. I expect to spend great,
mart of the winter looking up ar