The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1918-08-20
A BIG ROAD DRIVE FOR
BINGHAM COUNTY

The Bingham county Civic league
is making an effort to get something
started for better roads, and we be.
lieve all thoughtful persons will
agree that neglecting the roads Is
blocking the winning of the war, as
stated by their circular that is re-
printed in this issue. Whatever Is
done to make better roads for use
during the war becomes a help in
winning the war, because crops and
supplies have to be moved to where
they are needed, in order to be effec-
tive, and transportation is one OF
our weak points.
The league petition names concrete
as the material to be used in the
road-making, and if people do not
approve of concrete, they can easily
appear by committee before the COM
missiOners and make such represen-
tations as they may wish concerning
materials to be used. The purpose
of the petitions is to get action for
improved roads, rather than to de-
termine details of construction.
People will always differ as to
what materials should be used for
making hard roads, and different To-
calities will require different ma
terials on account of the formation
to be crowned and the availability of
something suitable to combine with
it.
The petition calling for concrete
roads Is accompanied by statement
saying that railroad transportation is
entirely insufficient for the present
needs. yet it calls for the moving of
large tonnage of cement for road
work. The cement would have to
come from as far away as Ogden
or Portland, and would require much
motive power and train facilities.
We have an abundant supply of
gravel close to each of the localities
where the proposed road work is to
be done, and by proper system of
screening, fine gravel could be OBJ
tanned in any desired quantities for
browning the roads. Everywhere
that fine gravel has been rightly
mixed with almost any kind of earth
1t has made a good durable road.
We have had examples of gravel be-
ing spread on the ground during the
winter and rolling it into the soil in
the spring when it is muddy, and
good durable road was the result.
1t has the additional advantage of
not requiring much, If any, repairs,
for it lies there, smooth and un-
changeable.
Our suggestion is that the roads
named in the petition should be put
in proper form this fall, and where
possible, the travel kept off of it
for the winter. Let the local people
spend the winter or part of it screen
ing and hauling gravel and spreading
1t uniformly on the surface to be
crowned, and when the spring thaw
comes, use the steam roller to drive
the gravel into the ground. It may
not make as good road as concrete,
but it will be much cheaper, and it |
may require less repairs, for there |
are several things that can happen
to concrete, and it never mends itself |
when broken. Gravel, once dis |
turbed, may be mashed into place |
again and made solid.
Bingham county is apparently on
the eve of bringing in a great many
tractors that will have to move about
over the roads. and the ribs or spikes
IN the tractor wheels would probably
De source of much damage If run
over the concrete, or it would cause
much Inconvenience if the tractors,
Vere prohibited from useing the hard
'oads. If the roads are graveled the
nj MI |
loing much If any damage, and such
damage as they do will be repaired
~ the next rain and the travel.
1t ought to be easy for Blackfoot
o gravel and roll three miles of road
he coming winter and spring. 1t
ought to be easy for Aberdeen and
Shelley to do two miles tach. 1t may
lot be necessary to 60 to the expense
# bond sale for these little jobs.
Part of it can be paid out of the road
nd bridge funds and the rest
aised easily by private subscription
n the localities where the work is
o be done and where the greatest s
enefits will be derived. There are /
hundred firms in Blackfoot that
'ould probably be very willing to s
ubscribe from $l0O to $500 each for t
UGH roads, and there must be I
arge number of farmers, who would I
onate from few days to a couple J
weeks work hauling gravel. The t
ork could be done at a time when t
pads are good and teams naturally 9
lie. The same plans ought to hold I
Ood at Aberdeen and Shelley. h
TT fhic r1op &c fn1louaI orI coc,,It, |
re satisfactory, big bond issue
light be arranged by the fall of
919 and trunk lines graveled all
lru the county where gravel is
eeded, and clayed where clay is p
eeded. The time has come for a
'ad drive, and the idle weeks Of fl
inter might be turned to account tt
inestimable value if we will but n
'ganize our forces and go at it.