The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1921-06-11

who has had a wide experience in the
construction various types of roads,
not only in louisiana, but in the
State Of Texas. Mr. Burke returned
from Texas about eight months ago.
and was Immediately employed hy
the State Highway Department.. and
put in charge Of the construction Of
a gravel road between Cade and st
Martinville, being the same type If
road as the New IBERIA Burke road.
The Highway Department and all
concerned were 50 well pleased with
this work that they did not hesitate
to put him in charge of the New he
ria-Burke road as they realized that
the specifications and contract would
be complied with to the letter. AS 10
the rocks which makes this road "ha-
zardous and almost unfit for traffic, .
the writer is thoroughly familiar
with this work and this statment can
be verified by numerous men, who
are thoroughly conversant with the
construction of gravel roads,-that
there is no rock on this road that
would make it hazardous. Specifica-
tions are being complied with and la
boratory screen tests are being made
constantly. This test specifies that
not less than 95 per cent Of all wash
ed gravel shall pass through a 1-2
inch screen and that from so to rs
per cent shall be retained on a IA
inch screen. This is known as the
coarse or mineral aggregate Vou-
merle tests are made constantly, and
all material that does not pass re-
quirements is being rejected, in fact,
there has been IL cars of washed
gravel rejected to date. This IS
proof beyond any question that the
Inspector is seeing that the people
are getting what they are paying for.
This gravel is being purchased by
the parish and the contractor has
nothing whatever to do with the ac-
ceptance or rejection of material. 1t
is strictly up to the Highway Inspec-
tor.
Experience throughout the country
has taught all road builders whether
practical or scientific, that the prop
er way to construct gravel road is
to put the mineral aggregate on top
Of the binder and allow the traffic 10
force it into the binder. OF coure,
it requires a longer time and is more
expensive to the contractor, than if
he was allowed to put the binder on
top then the contractor and the
public has to trust to Providence, for
more or less rain, in order tor soften
the clay binder, SO that the road can
be packed. This method of construc-
ton is practiced throughout the
country, and it is an undeniable fact,
that when highway is so construc-
ted it leaves almost solid mass of
aggregate on top, as wear
ing surface. 1t is well known fact
that rock will pack down in mud with
sufficient traffic, but the mud cannot
be forced down through rock with an
amount of traffic.
As to the probability of accidents
resulting while the top gravel is be-
ing worked down, there is absolutely
no danger in driving on road of |
this kind, when proper precautions
are taken. We venture to say that at |
the present writing 100 per cent of |
traffic is going over the gravel road
instead of following the mud road
the railroad.
Furthermore, we do not hesitate TO
say That In our opinion, which is the |
opinion of numerous men swho are
familiar with handling this class of
work, that there is no road in the
parish that will compare with it
when completed, and there will be no
money wasted and we will have a
model road which will no doubt give
New Iberia not only great deal of
'rade from the country side, but also
rom nearby towns, which they are
lot now enjoying"
Even if everything stated by the
editor of The Enterprise were true
what can be gained by publishing
broadcast diatribe on a public i'm
'rovement? Complaint could be made
uietly to the gentlemen in charge,
Without telling the world that New
IBERIA has death trap at its door.
)nly harm can come from that. Att
east that is our way Of looking at
he proposition. /
We were led to believe from read
1g the article in The Enterprise,
hat somebody was neglecting his
uty-or worse.
We did not want to think that lit
'as the gentlemen of the Police
ury. We did not want to think that
was the Inspector. We did mott
ant to think that it was the State 1