Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1913-09-26
Mr.. TOMS Address at The Fair.

The following are the salient
points In the address of Mr..
Toms at the Fair grounds last
Wednesday,:
The experience gained by
eminent engineers engaged in
road construction has de.aon-
strated the fact that the follow
ing principles should be adhered
to in the development of system
| of roads by any local, County or
State unit:
First: Highway construction
is scientific and engineering
problem.
Second: Proper location, grad
ing and drainage are first essent-
ials of any good road.
Third: Highways should be of
character directly suited to the
kind and volume of traffic using
them. 1t is uneconomical and a
waste of time and morey to build
roads unsuited to the volume
and character of traffic and of
short durability.
Fourth: Road foundations,
culverts, retaining walls and
road base should have a dura-
bility equal to or exceeding the
| life of the bonds issued to pay
for the construction of the rods.
Fifth: When appropriations are
made for road improvements,
suitable provision should be
made for maintenance of the
improved roads during the life
of the bonds issued to pay for
them.
Sixth: Volume and kinds of
traffic, speed and weights, with
loads, of vehicles using the road
should be ascertained before be-
ginning the construction of any
road by taking a traffic census.
and the rate of increase and
character of traffic should be
calculated well into the future.
Seventh: Construction or re-
construction of all main through
roads between important ,nters
OF trade, State capitals and cent
ers of a large population should
be of permanent character.
Eighth: Roads which sustain
a considerable volume of traffic,
mixed horse and motor vehicle,
should have a surface that will
not ravel under such traffic, that
! will not become dusty by wear
and the effects of weather, that
! will be impervious to water and
will not be loosened by frost.
Ninth: Until such time as
: traffic over subsidiary roads and
relatively little used county
roads warrants permanent i'm
provement construction, they
should be maintained in scrvic-
able condition for the traffic
T using them by relatively mex
T pensiye methods, such as by
!. dragging or by the application
I of gravel, sand and clay, shells
+ tic.
Tenth: Bridges and culverts
7 should be of sufficient strength
I to carry the traffic that can be
{ sustained safely by the roads of
I which they form a part. Pend
|. ing the rebuilding of strengthen
!. ing of bridges to such standard,
I signs should be prominently dis
+ played upon them.
Eleventh: Traffic DEVELOPMENT
IS an economic necessity, and
: the capacity of roads and bridges
{ should be adequate to the in
dustrial and commercial needs of
+ the communities they serve.
!. In the development of county
system, attention should be given
: to the continuity of all import
: ant roads. A single section of
unlmproved road will limit the
|. size of load that can be hauled
r over any improved road unless
the Improvement be continuous.
The full benefits of the improve
ment can never be realized un-
less the roads are continuous and
begin at somewhere and end at
somewhere.
The utilization of gravel where
the material is of good quality
) and easily obtained provides
surfaced road at nearly one half
: the cost of macadam and usually
meets all the requirements of
traffic on roads of secondary i'm
portance. The best of Thompson
valley gravel would make an
excellent road for ordinary
county traffic.