Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-04-19
EpOer and RECOMMENDATIONS

the Construction Of Roads in Super
SisSxs District I, Noxubee County.
District one, located in the northeast
8ner of the county. has an area OF
square miles. The greater part OF
surface is a gently sloping prairie
Skh few fiat, wide bottomed streams
Views. The soil consists mainly OF
Two types, the black Houston clay
"a the brown clay. locally called 'mlx-
81 post oak lands" Both of these soils
len properly drained and graded make
cellent roads during dry weather, and
bn during moderately wet periods. by
ytematic and constant maintenance
i be kept in fair condition where the
ffic is light But under heavy traf-
in excessive wet weather the roads
up SO badly they become practically
loassable, especially where the drain.
|e is imperfect.
Dn the two principal roads which
bss the district from east to west, the
ooksville Bigbee Valley Road and the
aeon Memphis road large volume Of
kffic is developed and large part OF
! heavy hauling occurs during the
inter months, so that there is urgent
ed that these roads be permanently
faced.
MATERIALS.
lFor the construction of these roads
Iree kinds of material are available
!. The limestone deposits near Cliff
vile and near Prairie Point. "a.
e Tombigbee gravels near the eastern
ge of the county, and 3rd. Material
pped by rail TO Macon and Brooks
,. =,
the hilltops near Cliftonville under
e II two feet of soil occurs layer OF
aestone about one foot thick, known
the "horse-bone" rock of the Selma
alk foundation, on account OF the re-
mblance of the weathered pieces to
e vertebrae Of a horse, This indi-
ties that the rock is not of uniform
Inability when exposed to the elements.
he rock is quite soft when first quar-
ed but hardens considerably after dry
u. A very careful examination OF
bme of this rock which had been quar-
ed and exposed to the air for some
ne. d ysd. that while some pieces
N. eotf 'nd the effects Of air and
osr rtner pieces will crumble into
hall fragments.
kThe use of this rock will not prove
ktisfactory for the wearing surface OF
knacadam road, but it can be used
Sth good results for the bottom or foun-
Ition of the roadway if harder ma
rial IS used for the wearing course,
I'd provided the thickness of both the
bundation and wearing courses be
mewhat increased. For example, in
lis county for roads built entirely OF
ke best material finished thickness OF
inches will be sufficient, but in build
r. the road with two kinds of stone,
e foundation course should have
impact thickness of 6 inches. aud the
hearing surface thickness of4 inches.
the limestone is the only material
iacent to the roads to be improved,
bnsiderable saving can be made by US
Q it in places for the foundation.
ToMBIGBEE GRAVEL.
Y Along the eastern edge of the dis
let and just across the border along
be Tombigbee river are found numer-
Is gravel deposits. The most suitable
srts of this gravel will make satisfac
" road building material. 1t will be
tactical to use it entirely for the east
a Of each road, and for the surface
Iurse on the middle portion of the
ods In estimating the cost OF load
this gravel, allowance has been
sae for the removal of OVERLAPPING ma
r;sl. in some deposits or for separat-
: out the excess of sand in other de-
psits.
" the western half of each road it
Recommended that the best material
.t.;nable be shipped in by rail to
,ooksville and Macon. The "novacu-
4 from Elco, ILL.,, now being used in
construction in Meridian. Miss,
s,sses to a high degree all the quail
desirable in road building material.
cost F. O. B. Meridian, is $l.lO per
and the same rate should be OBJ
lined for Noxubee county stations.
6ne considerable advantage in handling
NJ stone is that the weight per cubic
1.rd. ia but 216O pounds. whereas Gu
Ec yard of the local limestone will
Weigh over $500 pounds
TRANSPORTATION OF MATERIAL.
It is apparent that the greatest prob
r. II the construction of these roads
that Of the transportation of the ma
,r;a, to the road. The haul is unusually
mo for any of the materials that can
Material from the railway |