AN EXPERIMENT WITH A STEAM DRILL 



BY CHARLES H. PETTEE 



OBJECT OF EXPERIMENT 



The experiment herewith described has been carried out with 

 certain definite ends in view, and incidentally the location has 

 been so chosen as to partially carry out a far-reaching improve- 

 ment that is at present beyond the means of the town, and yet 

 is absolutely essential to properly set oft' the approaches to the 

 college. The definite ends were as follows : 



ist. To use a steam drill on a sufficiently large scale to deter- 

 mine how far its well-known advantages may be applicable to 

 country road work. 



2d. To study the question of comparative cost of moving 

 road material, differing in kind and having a variable length of 

 haul. 



3d. To incidentally make a further study of the question of 

 what a standard grade should be. 



4th. To experiment with different available materials for 

 surfacing. 



DESCRIPTION OF LOCATION AND OF WORK DONE 



The locality selected for experiment lies upon the main 

 thoroughfare through the village of Durham, with the property 

 of the New Hampshire College upon either side. This thor- 

 oughfare, for over a mile, is bordered upon one or both sides 

 for nearly the whole distance by land of this institution. The 

 street itself as laid out is 66 feet in width, and is nearly straight, 

 but the traveled portion varies considerably from a straight 

 line. Here and there masses of rock encroach upon this trav- 

 eled way and force it to one side. In other places, deep 



