The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1913-07-24

points on which there is no disagree
ment and which have been subject to
the tests of time and experience.
Q) A hard, unyielding face, such
as concrete affords, is not desirable in
that it is hard on the horse and vehicle,
tending to break and strain.
(2) 1t is slippery in wet and frosty
weather.
(3) 1t is noisy and frequently orig
mates dust.
The plan of roughening the surface
to afford better footing for horses has
been tried and proven unsuccessful in
that you increase the tractive force
necessary to move the loads and render
it more subject to wear, thereby in
creasing the noise and dust A surface
must be smooth to facilitate the NOV
ing of heavy loads, otherwise your OBJ
ject in surfacing is largely defea ted.
Modern practice favors a resilient or
rubbery surface, relying on this quality
of residence rather than roughness for
footing. Such surfaces are usually
composed of bitumen in various forms
and thicknesses, mixed with screen
ings for the shallower depths and with
larger stone for the greater, the latter
affording more wear. Thicknesses of
this bituminous coating have varied
! from one fourth inch to more than
three inches. This kind of mixture
should be of such consistency as to
afford the best footing, but not to be
so soft that it will run or bleed in sum-
mer or become hard and brittle in win
ter. Ninety per cent asphaltum oil has
given good results in this respect.
Such a smooth surface has the follow
! ing advantages:
Minimum tractive force for hauling.
Affords one of the best known footings
for horses on grades. Originates no
dust; is noiseless. waterproof and san
itary. Cost and maintenance are fairly
low. Repairs are easily made.
.One of your greatest questions is
still to come, viz: Who is competent
to design, lay out and build these
roads?
In the newer and more rapidly devel
oping parts of this great and glorious
country the usual popular demand il
for so-called practical road builder
but bear in mind that it is hard to fine
a man in any walk of life, particularly
among farmers and others living in the
country, who does not believe deeI
down in his heart that he is a practica
road builder. Be not deceived, but re
member that all your present disgrace
full roads have been built by these so
called practical road builders. Tn,
roads of this great northwest are 1
monument to their activities.
Roads are being built today with
cross section more like an irrigation
canal than road, leaving no chance
for drainage except down the center
Large sums are being spent on fifteel
per cent grades where seven per cen
grades are easily obtainable. Decid
for yourself whether these condition
do not warrant at least a trial of tn
skilled engineer. Many road books an,
celebrated road lecturers will tell yol
that there are very few competen
road engineers. You will admit, how
ever, at least that there are many en-
!, gineers capable of locating a line 0
best obtainabe grades and ailnemen
, over any given territory; many able t
compute drainage areas and desig
, proper bridges and eUlverts many abb
|, to set grades and finishing stakes, t
! insure proper crown and uniforr
! grades with an alinement consisting O
: true tangents and curves; many VIII
know how to locate road to requir
the movement of the minimum quaint
} ties of material and to design grade
J that will balance the quantities s
: handled; many who know how to mi