The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1914-12-24

and consequently there were many
teams idle at some times.
''There were about ten other jobs,
their appropriations ranging from
5000 to S7O0. These were done by day
labor under the supervision of the
local county commissioners. who ap-
pointed person who was especially
interested and competent to take
direct charge of the work. / found
all of these men anxious to follow
my suggestions as regards the proper
draining, grading and rounding up
of the finished roadbed, and in max
ing the money appropriated reach
as far as possible, not forgetting for
a moment that what work we did
was to be permanent and substantial
and model and incentive for future
road building in Mile Laos county.
''From road building standpoint,
the soil and Typographical conditions
divide the county into three distinct
parts.
"The Southern Part: In this Sec
tion the soil is sandy and the country
is comparatively level with adequate
natural drainage. This obviates the
necessity for much ditching and
grading. and makes it necessary that
a great deal of stress be put upon
the proper surfacing of the road.
Where there is clay to be had within
a reasonable distance. it has been
found possible to make very good
surface by making what is called a
sand-clay surface; with diligent care
in the initial stages and adequate
maintenance during the first few
years, this makes a very good road.
However, the best and by far the
most economical in the long run is
the surfacing with the st. Coud
granite. The three roads surfa.ed
in this manner, running out from
Princeton. can we'll be taken as ex-
amples of what is possible with this
granite, under the aforesaid con-
ditions.
"The Central Part: This section
is rolling and the soil is very heavy,
having great deal of clay in it's
makeup. Gravel is to be had at
comparatively short hauls. The pits
contain great many stones too
large for use in the gravel and if a
samll portable crusher were added to
the equipment, they might be we'll
utilized in surfacing the road How
ever, owing to the rough contour of
the land, grading is the most i'm
portant factor in this section, with
drainage coming next. Surfacing
can be taken care of later, as with
proper drainage and grading a road
in this section, composed of this
clayey soil, if properly maintained,
will be in very passable condition
all the year round. .~--
''The Northern Part: Drainage is
the main feature of the roadbuild-
ing in this district. The soil is of 4
heavy Clay composition and there are
many large swamps with very little
fall. In some cases good road can
be made by making. good side and off,
take bitches and proper grading, but
in many instances it is necessary to
provide for the adequate drainage of
the whole swamp or system of
swamps, before road can be had that
will be passable at all seasons of the
year. Gravel is to be had here at
very short hauls, but as yet the sur
facing is not the Important feature
in this newer settled portion.
''There is plenty of good surfacing
gravel to be had in close proximity
to all the portions of the various
roads with the exception of those
in the extreme southern part, of the
county. At present the county is
the owner of only one gravel pit, but
if the board intends to continue
their present policy, it would be ad-
visable for them to purchase the
most conveniently located of these
pits as soon as possible. @
"The maintenance crews of each
district have been supplied by the
county with a good set, of tools, ad-
equate facilities for the storage of
which have been made. 1t will be
necessary to purchase more next
year, however, if the county board
intends to do the work on the con-
struction Jobs by day labor. On
some Of the smaller jobs this year
work was delayed at times owing to
the fact that we had to wait until
the various town boards had COM
pleted their work before we could
get the use of their tools.
Mile Laos county claims to have
built one of the best pieces of road
in the state during this last year.
This is stretch of macadam stretch
ing west from Princeton, giving a
. Sm00th- bor6 Unll% nro6o1 curfooo