The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-12-18
INTERESTING REVIEW OF ROAD
BUILDING FROM ROMAN
DAYS TO PRESENT.
Durability 10 Aim In All Construction.
This Community Fortunate In
Possession Of Hard Stone.


There are millions OF automobiles
IN this country and about $4,000 in
this state. All autoists enjoy good
roads. but it's a safe bet that the ma
Jority OF them know little about road
construction or the past history OF
road building.
There prehaps is no better versed
man on this subject in this section
than James y. Ball. president OF the
Ball Engineering company, highway
constructors, who have builded a num-
Der of roads in this section. and there
were never better ones built. They
have proved 10 be thoroughfares OF
pleasure and roads OF endurance.
About the finest and best piece OF
resurfaced brick road TO be seen in
this country Is In the neighbOrhood
or their plant at Woodsdale. on the
National pike, which Is practically
completed.
Here's what Mr.. Ball said the other
day in discussing roads. their his
tory and the present construction OF
public thorOughfares, and it's worth
reading and remembering:
Romans a. Road Builders.
In popular estimation the Romans
were the nrst road builders. but as a
matter 81 fact the Egyptians and Assyr-
ians as road builders taught the Romans
about All they knew Rome got a great
reputation as road builder by the ex-
tent Of highway the empire constructed.
rather than b. the development Of any
new method. FOR the method o. all the
ancient road builders was simply Co put
IN as much stone a. possible. Some u
the Roman roads are three feet thick.
and must have cost. IN our money. $500
900 mile. Hut there o. no denying
that Rome FIRST showec the world that
paved Highways were necessary means
o. communication and the securoat foun-
dalton ~ wealth and civilization.
Coming down more nearly io our own
times, the eruchal events in the history
Of road building are the IDEAS advanced
b. The famous English engineer. Thomas
TcMord. who. On iho3. sas appointed en-
% road in Scotland. an1 John D.. Me-
Adam. whose ideas on tho proper COM
struction ~ broken stone roads were
John L. MoAdam's ideas.
IelfordIa idoaa did not ret much ho-
youd fhe U.s. n large stones placed with
mud MADAM pssrfe1ted tts iSss ~ ~
bonding fhe stone forofhar partly ~
rsaeon u The keyinE together III broken
means ~ the bond crowded bv water
and stone dust Thus. Doc says In hla
rrlFInaI report broken stone will COM
bin~ ~ its own nnFirs into a smooth.
hv the ficiaalfudea ~ water or diarIacrf
~ fhe action ~ wheels. which will pass
over if without n llff nnd r0narauruffr
without Injury
McAdan Wrnts THE before the day
of TIE automobile Nifn fHr nUnrar.
Rnco n faet-m1vIur rIhhnr.ffrfd We
hiclea. an entirely now IiTIraffv f1r tna
rnad builder WHH INTRODUCED. namely.
ne suction rrt up tv rapidly m1uirr
that a0uo more fTrefIvr binder va
uef0afnrp and asphalt ana 0ffar HIfr.
WinOuH materials we're escorted o. TEIr
vas natural enough. Tor hrfIrr nrnhaffIr
flllH nccnfnr q rrrnarIfr there haI been
lad millions n aruHrr rarls IA rurT
pavement. The eeweuffrr factor Dr.
which vas asphalt fn f4rf ar arrhsff
asphalt street win fha ffr.rrrra fF.f
ne stone in d road aurf4rs ~ I.-r.-
thar fhe mineral nrrrarnfr Ir nn. arrfrff
pavement. largely Dr wholly composed I'd
Asphaitio oonorsts uszt Aavanos.
lh9 principle NJ fha asphalt mHrr.
fam road a. TOE SEINE 40 fha rrIrrIfIs
" a WaferlD wnrHdau road. fnr 0rIe
difference belrF thnf or ra binder fr
both cases Do J. thr stone thar ir me
gsar-resisunr factor ard in me aasa
asphalt la 10 cement together and hold
hundreds N miles n asphalt marsf az.
built ~ The Ho-caliof penetration pro
fesg flaf naEe stood up uudrr heavy
treIic Tor eight m nine yoarr
The newt advance Do road hnnffrr
D. rfrrerenfef ~ aarhafflr r0nrrrfr..
WeaflnG surface com posed ~ afnne.
eand and asphalt Tue Ir0tan afons