The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1912-05-23
Is Suggested by Government
Expert Who Inspects
County's Roads.
TELLS HOW TO MAKE
Good Roads and Keep Them
Good in Report Sent
TO Mr.. King.

copy OF report OF an inspection OF
the roads OF Harrison county recent
IS made by James T. yoshell, gov
eminent road expert from Washing
ION, al the instance of the board Of
trade. The report follows:
Present Condition Of the Roads.
The Northwestern Virginia, Mil
ford, Weston. Buckhannon. Philippi
and Fairmont turnpikes, reported to
me as beng the most important roads
Of the county, about ninety miles in
all, were inspected. With the OK.
ceptlon OF seven or eight miles, here.
matter mentioned, all Of these roads
were found to be SO muddy as to BIZ
practically impossible. Drawing
blackboard with two passengers
twenty miles dag proved big day,
work fer team during this inspec.
ton. The deep mud found every.
where was due in part to the nature
OF the soil but in many places It was
due to lack OF proper drainage. Few
OF the roads are we'll graded. The
crown OF the road is too nat and
proper side-drainage and cross-drain-
age are rarely provided. Practically
all OF the cross-drains are construct
ed or vitrihed clay pipe with dry
rubble masonry to protect the ends
of the pipe. The pipe is rarely laid
deep enough to prevent the wheels Of
wagons from striking, and breaking Il
and the end walls are rarely sub
stanual enough to properly protect
the end OF the pipe.
The county has seven or eight miles
or road which has been surfaced with
in the last two or three years. Last
year a section OF brick road, $500
feet long and twelve feet wide was
laid on the Milford pike near Clarks-
burg. In driving over this section
there was very perceptible move
ment of the brick under the wheels
Of the blackboard. This should no;
have been and was probably due %
lack of firmness in the foundation
and to not grouting the joints be-
tween the brick. About five miles
of plain macadam and two miles Of
bituminous macadam road have been
recently built on the Northwestern
pike between Clarksburg and Salem
The plain Inacadam is in many places
badly rutted due to lack OF rolling
and TO the use Of sandstone for the
foundation course which readily dis
integrates. The surface of the BIZ
luminous macadam Is in good condi-
ton. There are many little bumps
and holIows which could have been
avoided If more attention had been
given TO the grading. Firm shoulders
to hold the stone in place, at least
three feet wide, were not provided.
\ number OF concrete arch culver.s
and bridges have recently been built
which are in excellent condition. The
action Of the county court in select-
ins this type of construction which
insurcs permancncy is certainly com
mendable.
Road Administration.
Section 81. Chapter SO OF the Acts
Of the legislature of 1909. provides
that the County Court shall appoint
County Road Engineer and sections
. 10 1O4 of the same act set forth
the duties of such engineer which, in
general, are that he shall have gen
eral charge of all the public roads
and bridges within the county and
Sha!i see that the same are improved,
repaired and maintained as proyNled
ey law; advise and direct those en-
p.oyed by him how best to repair.
maintain and improve such roads and
bridges; examine various deposits o.
gravel and stone available and suited
Tor the improvement of the public
roads; call a meeting each year OF
all road employees IN each magis-
ter'al district in the county betwean
February 30 and March 30 and In
struct them in the best md most
economical plans for improving the
roads and in expending the district
road funds; and, If practical, adopt
uniform system of road work for
tho county
Tho legislature OF 1911 amended
Section 81 providing for tho appoint-
"en' Of County Road Engineer So
mat the county court may appoint a
County Road Engineer and have all
OF the road work done under his su-
psrTisIon or it may appoint a super
VISOR for each district and have the
"ofk done by contract Provision
is made, however, that a majority Of
Inc electors Of the county may de-
iermine which method shall be
adopted.