The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-06-04
HOMESPUN ROAD
CONSTRUCTION
(By J. w. crary, sr.)

| 10y ~ W. SEAiyg SFsJ
The most notable characteristics Of
the human family is the disposition
that somehow. or for some reason
something from some where else than
at home is superior or should be adopt
ed and used than what we may have at
home, and after we go to heavy ex-
pense using 1t at first cost the result
only ends in costly and wasting ex-
penditures.
This Is notable in the concrete road
surfacing of our public roadways. The
writer had the pleasure of coming
from AsRevil1e, N c., to Bluff Springs
by automobile last fall and all kinds
of road material had been used along
the highways, where concrete surfac-
| ing had been used and been subjects to
heavy travel, the inyariable dug out
pocket or small hole either stated
where a crack from expansion and
| contraction, or a loose foundation or
improper mix right at this point, and as
| the motor power driven vehicle must
have traction and only a small surface
of the tire is momentarily getting
that, and as each fracture In the road
surface is met, extra energy is exerted
and in doing this the edges are proKen
and each repeated contact Increases the
damages. Repairing these places are
only a makeshift and temporary af-
fairs, and very expensive.
Again, our highways should be so
constructed as to be q competition
agency to our rail system to the short
haul and inland points of distribution,
and afford a means of reaching the
shipping points and should be built all
through the county If we ever expect
IL, o1-s,.
the materials that are as near the road
beds as possible.
We observed while making this trip
that the predominating material which
was far the better road, was sand, clay
and gravel. Put on the road about the
portion of one of sand, two Of clay and
three of gravel and a heavy facing of
this. put on; not a sugar coating as we
do, calling it road building; and from
experimenting we have done by the
skin coating Of our natural materials
Clay, sand and gravel, of which we
have an inhaustable supply all over
our county, the results are conclusive
that we can have fine road system
all through our county with practically
small cost in comparison to any other
road material.
And If we can eliminate the political
and expensive scientific furbelows and
Drills and inaugurate system first
Of giving to as many citizens in the
county as possible employment along
the road constructor. as many have
teams that they would be glad to use
at certain seasons of the year for haul
ing, etc. Then see that our road beds
had sufficient width to properly drain
in good side bitches, building good and
substantial culverts and water passes
under the water and drainage cross
lngs and on our long hills passing the
water across at intervals or serpentin
ing the direction down hill instead of
trying to go straight down this would
free the water from the road bed and
prevent SO much erosion and making
ascent and descent easy.
We have some good roads laid out ais
to direction, location and convenience,
and this road laying out was done By
blazed sapling and club axe engineer
ing. II these locations are not the best
under all conditions now existing, why
should they be adopted now on the
whole2
Now il we expect to develop our
county we must have good roads
through same. il Pensacola expects to
De city as 1t Is by nature entitled TO