OBJECT-LESSON" AND EXPEEIMENTAL EOADS, 1912-13. 21 



on account of unfavorable weather. A total length of 5,000 feet was graded 

 to a width of 16 feet in cuts and IS feet in fills and surfaced to a width of 16 

 feet throughout, making a total area of 8,890 square yards for the surfaced 

 roadway. 



The adjacent land is approximately level and the soil consists of fine loose 

 sand. Eight hundred and ninety cubic yards of earth was moved in excava- 

 tion, with a maximum cut of 2 feet and a minimum fill of 2.5 feet. The 

 excavated material was loosened with plows, hauled for an average distance 

 of 200 feet in wheel scrapers and dump wagons, and spread with a road 

 machine. The maximum and minimum grades remained respectively 0.2 per 

 cent and level. 



In order to increase the stability of the sand foundation, a layer of sea 

 moss, 2 inches thick before compacting, was spread before applying the sur- 

 facing material, and 117 wagon loads of moss were used. The surfacing ma- 

 terial, which consisted of a natural sand-clay mixture, was then spread to a 

 depth of TJ inches loose or 5 inches compacted, and a crown of 1 inch to 1 

 foot was given the roadway. The material for the surfacing amounted to 

 1,823 cubic yards. It was hauled 1,000 feet in slat-bottom wagons and spread 

 with a road machine. This material was delivered by contract at $0.50 per 

 cubic yard. 



Labor cost $1.50 and teams cost $3.50 and $4 per 9-hour day. The total 

 cost of the road to the community was $1,397.13, which is at the rate of 

 $0,157 per square yard. The principal items of cost were as follows: Excava- 

 tion, at $0,348 per cubic yard, $309.58; surfacing material, delivered, at $0.50 

 per cubic yard, $911.50 ; spreading the surfacing material, at $0,011 per square 

 yard, $20; loading and spreading the moss, $82.05; shaping the finished road- 

 way, $8 ; and superintendence and general expenses, $66. 



Corpus Chbisti, Tex. — During the fall of 1912 a sand-clay road was con- 

 structed at Corpus Christi, extending in a northwesterly direction toward 

 Calallen. Work was begun on October 8, 1912, and completed on November 29, 

 1912, and during this time five days were lost on account of bad weather. The 

 land adjacent to the road is rolling and the nature of the soil is sand-clay 

 throughout, with clay predominating from station to station 20, while from 

 station 20 to station 54 sand predominates. In all, 5,400 feet was graded 45 

 feet wide, making 27,000 square yards. The maximum cut was 1 foot and the 

 maximum fill 3.5 feet, and the grade was reduced from 6.5 per cent to 5 per 

 cent. The volume of excavation was 6,700 cubic yards, and the average haul 

 was 200 feet and the maximum haul 700 feet. Throughout its entire length 

 the road was surfaced with a natural sand-clay mixture of good binding and 

 wearing qualities for a width of 16 feet and a compacted depth of 6 inches, 

 making 9,600 square yards of surface covered, or 2,140 cubic yards of material 

 used. The material was spread with a road grader. 



The crown adopted was one-half inch to 1 foot. The road was so located 

 that the principal problem presented was that of securing proper drainage. To 

 this end the grade was raised and six existing culverts were ^replaced by three 

 new ones of greater capacity, constructed as follows: At station 11+20 a 

 24-inch vitrified clay pipe 39* feet long; at station 24+20 two 36-inch corru- 

 gated metal pipes 24 feet long, replacing two 24-inch vitrified clay pipes ; at 

 station 43+00 a reinforced concrete box culvert, 6 feet in span, 4+ feet in 

 height of opening, and 22 feet in length; and at station 51+50 an old 24-inch 

 vitrified clay pipe culvert was allowed tc remain in place. All of the pipe used 

 was found on the ground, and the concrete culvert was built by contract. 



The equipment consisted of 1 road grader, 4 wheel scrapers, 5 drag scrapers, 

 1 plow, three li-cubic-yard wagons, 1 disk harrow, and 1 tooth harrow. 



