The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1919-07-03
MAJOR THOMAS TALKS
ON BUILDING, ROADS

Thomas of Charleston, Chairman OF
the State Highway Commission, re-
Gently gave a statement to the press
in which he outlined the policy which
tic Commission has adopted in con-
s'ructing sections of the South Caro-
Ina highway System with the flnan-
Cal I'D from the Federal Govern
ment.
"The Commission will see", said
Major Thomas, "that the roads in the
State Highway System have the best
possible location with reference to
their terminal points, sufficient width
(not less than 80 feet) to carry
present and prospective traffic, the
lowest possible grade Tin no case more
than s per cent) and that the drain
age structures are built for perman-
ence. After giving it the best loca-
ton, sufficient width, minimum
grade and permanent drainage struct-
ures, the State Highway Commission
will not attempt to decide arbitrar-
ily whether a road is to be hard sur
faced or surfaced with some local ma
terial, as this is factor which must
be controlled by the amount of money
available for use on any particular
stretch of road"
Major Thomas pointed out the close
analogy between railroads and high
ways. He said that in this safe there
1rno dc rt,~
of century ago which
occupied the same locations
determined by the first engineers who
worked on them. These engineers
made the grades low and the loca-
tions the best obtainable, although
they did not provide many permanent
drainage structures. When the rail-
roads were first laid flimsy crossties
and light weight rails, some of them
of timber topped by iron strips, were
put on the roadbeds. With the in
crease of traffic and heavier trains
the flimsy crossties and light weight
rails were replaced from time to time
until now on all standard railroads
there are 90 lb. rails and heavy cross
ties ballasted by crushed stone. "The |
surface Of a State Highway, built of
some local material, can be compared |
ties and light weight rails laid or
railroad roadbeds three-quarters of |
a century ago." continued Major |
Thomas. "The highway surface of
local material can re removed when |
it wears out, and if money is availabiel|
hard surface made of imported MA
terial can be laid which will then bring
the highway up to the best standard. |
No group of highway enthusiasts is |
more anxious than the State Highway
Commission to see every road in the |
State hard surfaced, but such surfac-
ing is a matter of money, while the |
States need for roads which will be
dry in wet weather and afford means
for hauling at low cost between Sec
tions of the State now isolated in bad
weather, is pressing and present one
which we cannot relegate to some in
counties have money enough to put
hard surfaces on all their roads.
"The roads in the State Highway
System being built under the super
vision of the State Highway Com
mission with Federal Aid will COM
pare favorably as to permanence
location, width, grade and drainage
structures with standard stretch of
railroad. We do not consider
that money spent on surfaces of local
materials for sections of these roads
is wasted, although it would afford
great pleasure to the Commission to
have all of these roads hard surfaced
now. On an average the cost of
hauling, spreading and compacting q
road surface made of local material
is only 80 per cent of the total cost,
the remaining 70 per cent being made
up of the cost of relocation, grading,
grubbing and permanent drainage
structures. A road should be properly
located, graded, given sufficient width
and permanent drainage structures
before any sort of surface is put on
it. The cost of this work is the pri-
mary charge against any good road.
After this work is done and this first
charge met, the type of surface can
be determined by amount of money
available and made second charge
against the road. Maintenance of
the surface of the road will constitute
third and continuous charge re-
gardless of the type of surface laid"