The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1915-03-19
Mr.. r. F. Eastman, Gov
ernment Engineer, Has
Made Trip Over County
Studying Conditions
Will Next Deliver Ad-
dresses on Road Build
ing.

Mr.. r. F. Eastman, highway en-
gineer, representing the United
States Department Of Agriculture,
ovce of Public Roads, is in Union
county looking over the public high
ways Of the county. The department
which sends out the experts to in
Quire into the road situations
throughout the county,, making par
ticular inquiry into the adaptability
Of different material, cost of con-
struction, cost of maintenance, de-
creased cost of hauling, the increased
efficiency Of schools, improvement in
social conditions in the community,
land values, and every and all phases
of the good roads proposition.
The road building materials found
in Union county, Mr.. Eastman says,
are similar to that found in the
Piedmont section Of the United
States, extending from Georgia Oh
the South through South and North
Carolina and Virginia on the north.
In numerous counties where tn,
roads have been improved with this
class of material, the improved
roads have been a success and from
the experience of other counties in
the Piedmont section, which have
improved their roads, it is possible
to estimate the increased benefits to
the farmers, merchants ard corpora
tions. The estimated annual ton.
mage on the roads of Union county
of cotton, fertilizers, lumber, flour,
and groceries, cord wood and like
commodities is 10000 tons yearly.
This tonnage is hauled an average
of miles to and from the farms
and towns. The average cost OF
hauling on roads unimproved and
similar to Union county roads, is
about 30 cents per ton per mile
hauled. If these roads are improved
the cost of hauling one ton per mile
should be Is cents instead of 80
cents, because of the ability to haul
double the loads now hauled and to
use the roads every day in the year
instead of only in good weather, as
is the case now.
The saving of $50 thousand ton
miles each year moved over Union
county roads, would be over $4,000
a year, against this saving in hauling
cost there would be charge of
$4,000 year for interest and sink
ing funds on bond issue, annually
for 27 years. The increased efIici-
cncy in education by increasing the
average attendance in the schools
by children being able to get to
school every day during the term
instead Of losing days when weathc.
and roads would not permit them
going, would amount to about 25 per
cent-a value of about onc-ffth of
the total amount now spent on edu-
cation.
Mr.. Eastman SAYS that it has been
the experience of the road construc-
tion where the management of bond
issues for the Improvement of roads
has been in the hands of commits
sion of business men and exnerienccd
road engineer, as provided for in our
present special act the results have
been more satisfactory than ar.
other method. Union county i
spending now something like $4,000
a year on roads, and when the roads
are improved the cost per mile per
year will not be half what it now
is if roads are maintained in proper
shane throughout the year.
Mr.. Eastman was accompanied BIZ
Secretary A. G.. Kennedy on the
made throughout the county. and
together they have made the follow
inc schedule for series of addresses
TO be made.
Buffalo. Saturday, March goth, at
> p. M, hall over Rilev's store
West Springs, Saturday, March
Goth, at 8 D. m., in school building.
Cedar Bluff, Monday. %. at II
o'clock noon, at school building.
Cross Keys. Monday, %, 8 p. m., at