The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-10-24
SECTION ABOVE THE GERMANY
BRIDGE CONDEMNED BY
ALL WHO SEE 1T.
Autoists Face Danger OF skIddlno BE
cause OF Lack OF curb-other
Troubles.

One OF the worst pieces of road engi.
neering that has been brought to the
attention Of the people travelling the
highways OF this State, is that OF the
recently paved National road east of
T1adelphia. This work was COM
pieted some months ago. and when
under process OF construction was ex-
pected to prove a great Improvement
10 the roads in this vicinity. On the
contrary this work is now looked on
as useless expenditure of money.
This statement comes, not from the
standpoint that paved roads are use
less, and an added expense, but f,om
the manner In which this road was
paved. In the first place the road was
in splendid condition. Not being SAT
isred with the roadbed as II was. the
county commissioners, or road engi-
neer as the case may have been, had
a NIL ranging from several inches 10
nearly two feet made. In addition to
this. the curbing was set SO as to
come even with the bricks. not al
lowing a fraction OF an inch 10 keep
automobiles or vehicles from skidding
INTO the ditch.
On the other hand, as is customary
tie bricks in the middle of the road
are higher than at either side. Ordi-
narily this is a good feature as II
gives the water and refuse a chance
TO drain to the cutters, but at the same
time doubles the danger of skidiing
when the bricks are wet or icy as 10
frequently the case in the winter, be-
cause there is no curling there 10
keep vehicles from sliding into the
dep ditch at either side.
Badness Shows.
Again TO come back to the PROPOSE
ton OF paving the roads. This is un-
doubtedly one of the best methods in
which a permanent highway can be
had IL the right kind of material is
used. II any one thinks that the new
ly paved road from Germany bridge.
Just east of Triadelphia, to stop num-
Der seven on the West Virginia Trac.
ton and Electric Company lines is
up TO the standard. all they have to co
Is take look at the present condition
OF said pavement. On close observa-
ton they will find that already there
are number of low places where the
foundation was not properly attended
TO and where the bricks have been
sunk some inches by the comparative
ly small amount OF travel that has
reen done on this road. They will
also find by close observation that
already some OF the bricks that were
laio in the pavement. have started to
disintegrate
The section OF pike that was left
unpaved. between stop seven and the
state line at West Alexander. Is in
much better condition accordingly lhan
that section OF road that has been
paved. This is true. with the excep-
tion of few hundred feet at Roney'A
Point, where the road has been TORN
up for the condition OF laying a "on-
crete, tarvia. or some other durable
road
Work on the cutting down OF this
place was started some weeks ago.
and after having had the necessary
grading done. they started making
preparations for the laying of the new
road. This has been at least ten days
aEo and the preparations still go on.
while in some cases persons with
heavy loaded wagons and automobiles
are compelled TO secure the services
OF extra teams and on one or two oc.
casions, machines were stuck in the
mud so close TO the West Virginia
Traction lines that the motormen
were compelled to pull the machines
out with their cars in order TO be able
20 make their trips. Probably these
up to-date road men will. II given the
time. get this section OF few nun
dred feet finished sometime within
the future.