The De Soto County news. [volume] (Arcadia, Fla.) 1898-1924, 1916-01-06
PAGE TWO.
GOOD ROAD MATERIAL
NLEE COUNTY.


We learn that, in the progress Of
the grading operations on the new
Fort Myers-Naples road, between Boz
nita Springs and Horse Creek Con-
tractor Wallace has located vast guam
titles Of rock Of a superior quality for
road surfacing work-enough, It
would seem, to surface all the roads
In Lee county, and then some. The
quality of the rock encountered may
he appreciated when 1t is stated that
much Of the grade already established
in the several weeks work is said to
be almost entirely Of rock, with sew
eral miles of 1t stlll ON ahead to go
through.
This would seem to be the solution
Of the surfacing problem for this new
road. for by putting in a big rock
crusher with auto trucks TO haul out
a train OF several wagons at a time,
this rock can be quickly and cheaply
distributed over the graded surface
for miles both ways along the route.
AT every creek and cypress crossing
there is also plenty OF rock which
should render II easily available to
all points along the line. By putting
on first the coarse rock, and later a
top dressing Of finer stone well roll
ed, we can secure a solid r0ud sur
face at a minimum Of expense by util-
izlng the raw material which is prac-
tically on the ground.
From the first, the Eagle has con-
tended that the only solution Of the
good roads problem for Lee county
would be found in utilizing, as nearly
as possible, our native material, thus
reducing to a minimum the charges
for freight which, in the case Of brick
and other material shipped in from
the north, eats up so much Of the bond
money.
1t is readily admitted that ordina-
ny macadam road, in these days Of
automobile traffic, is not by any
means ideal, as the rapidly revolving
rubber tires produce a suction which
continually dusts all fine particles
from the roadbed, with the result that
travelling thereon is exceedingly disa-
greeable, and the road soon becomes
rutted and uneven. This condition is
being overcome in the rock roads
around Miami where last spring we
observed some Of these roads which
were being torn up with steam plows
and regarded. preparatory to oiling.
Once oiled and rolled. they become
dark in color, restful to the cyes, dust
less and almost as smooth rs asphalt.
Our local bond issue Is small, IN ,
comparison with the work which it Is !.
scheduled to accomplish, hence the
need for economy is imperative. But
II would seem that by utilizing tho IA I
tive rock along the route, and oiling
same, we can secure the mileage Of
hard surfaced road provided for, with
in the limits Of the bond issue. Evon
If we should contemplate a sandals.
phalt or more expensive surfaciug la
ter, such surfacing would ne Of no
durability or value unless laid upon
a clay or rock foundation, so we can
not 90 wrong in utilizing this rock at
all events. Then, if there should
chance to be any Of the bond money
left after laying and oiling the rock
road. let us try a bit Of sand-asphalt'
road. laid over rock foundation. But
irst, we should he sure Of our full
Mileage Of hard surfaclng, which
eems best assured by utilizing the
'ock, which is the cheapest available
-Estero Eagle.