The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-08-19

constructing the road at d cost OF not
more than $50 per mile per year.
while 800 per mile per year is a low
estimate for the cost of maintenance
OF macadam road. II the traffic
over the road ever justifies putting
down the tar or asphalt preparations,
the Sand-clay makes fine foundation
All the country roads should have a
40-foot right-Of-way and the road
should be built not less than "a feet
wide with sand-clay or top soil in the
center not less than feet wide and
eight inches deep. Farmers should
not be allowed to cultivate the field
road. thus allowing the water to drain
from the fields into the roads"
To properly maintain its roads DR..
Pratt said a county should have a
right to govern all traffic on its roads
and he wants this power bestowed on
| the county commissioners. After a
system OF good roads has been built in
county the use Of wide-tired wagons
| should be forced on those hauling
| over the roads, especially in the case
Of heavy lumber wagons. The ques-
ton Of wide-tired wagons is to be
discussed at a meeting called to be
| held in Washington for that purpose,
and an effort will be made to have all
wagon manufacturers present at this
conference. The State now regulates
automobiles and there is 40 reason
why counties should not have the au-
thOrity to regulate all other public
road traffic. The State law making
IS miles an hour the speed limit
should be enforced. because when a
| machine runs over 25 miles an hour
the suction from the tires is very det-
rimenta to the road The autOrtO
biles loosen the road anu then the
narrow tired wagons come along and
l AvoA h0 T.
France wagon must have tire in
width according to the we,ght Of the
load hauled.
The need Of an efficient road engi-
neer in every county in the State was
stressed by DR.. Pratt. It will be
found, he declared, that the counties
which have gotten best results as tC
the location, construction and main
tenance of roads are those who have
I employed engineers who know nov
to build roads. look over she roads
Of these counties will convince any
one. And il you want to &c, the bes
results give the engineer authority tt
go ahead and build the roads as ht
: sees best, regardless of the location
: etc. desired by others. Hire q mar
, who knows how and let him locate
the road where it will be best for th'
Q lxoad, for the location is the one thing
: that should be permanen.. The peo
y pie Of North Carolina are now mucl
: interested In the unjust freight rate
that have been charged in North Car
' olina. We should also stop and thinl
: about the rate we have been payin,
v the public. roads By the empsoymen
4 Of good engineers and the building
e and maintaining OF good roads, W
n can reduce the cost OF haulting from
Il Is cents per ton per mile to cents
4 Dr. Pratt approved the action o
a the North Carolina Good Roads AsSO
4 citation in advocating State High
e way Commission and the working Q
4 State convicts on the public road:
n The State Highway Commission bi
J. as presented. he said. would give en-
d gineering assistance to counties no
!, able to employ regular engineers an
" would work State convictS on tn
70 highways without interfering in an
N way with the conyfcts owned an
It worked by the individual cOuntie
r. The best way convict can pay h
,e debt to the State. said he. Is 60 wor
-e the public road. and the State ca
,e spend money in no better way than
If giving engineering assistance to tn
al counties desiring to locate and bull
8 good roads. The adoption OF metf
,e DDS that would increase the efficienC
10 of convict forces worked on the roa(
ne by the counties was advocated. II
& cOnvicts should be SO trained ar
,e cared for that they will be better CT
r zens when they regain their llber
10 than they were when they bega
OF their terms.
ce Various questions about roads asi
be ed Dr. Pratt by the commissione
n were answered at the close or ms a
by dress.
III To Legislature Again.
es When Dr. Pratt concluded. Pres
in (Continuad on Page Eleven }