OBJECT-LESSON AND EXPERIMENTAL ROADS, 1912-13. 33 
Work was done in 10 counties — Cannon, Carter, Cumberland, Greene, Hamblen, 
Loudon, Roane, Warren, Washington, and White. On account of the badly- 
sunken and worn condition of the existing roads together with the excessive 
grades, a new location was made on a large portion of the route, particularly 
on the section crossing the Cumberland Mountains, where the plans call for a 
new location throughout practically the entire distance of 55 miles. 
All new location was made permanent, and it was frequently necessary to in- 
stitute condemnation proceedings before the new right of way could be secured. 
The general maximum grade adopted was 5 per cent, but in one or two instances 
on the mountain sections it was necessary to use a 6 per cent grade on short 
stretches. Concrete or stone masonry was used in all the larger drainage struc- 
tures, while corrugated metal or vitrified clay pipe was used for the smaller 
drainage areas. 
Preliminary surveys were made on 148.6 miles and final location was estab- 
lished for 87.3 miles. On December 15, 1912, of the total unimproved mileage 
between Nashville and Bristol — 152.3 miles — a total of 52 miles of grade and 
17.4 miles of surfacing was finished, while uncompleted contracts and work 
being done by force account assured a total of 75.5 miles of finished grade and 
52.5 miles of surfaced road. The status of the work on a percentage basis 
was : Unimproved mileage graded, 34.1 per cent ; unimproved mileage sur- 
faced, 11.5 per cent ; unimproved mileage which will be graded upon comple- 
tion of contracts, 49.6 per cent; unimproved mileage which will be surfaced 
upon completion of contracts, 34.2 per cent; and unimproved mileage remain- 
ing between Nashville and Bristol upon completion of contracts, 21.8 per cent. 
The total quantities, together with the average unit costs, of the work done 
on the 52 miles of grade and 17.4 miles of surfacing finished were as follows: 
Clearing and grubbing 76.45 acres, at $54.13 per acre; earth excavation, 225,513 
cubic yards, at $0,251 per cubic yard; loose-rock excavation, 306.8 cubic yards, 
at $0.39 per cubic yard ; solid-rock excavation, 15,215.9 cubic yards, at $0,812 per 
cubic yard; overhaul on excavation, 44,446 yard stations, at $0.01 per yard 
station; concrete, 686.1 cubic yards, at $7.94 per cubic yard; masonry, 255.4 
cubic yards, at $6 per cubic yard ; slag and gravel, 21,826 cubic yards, at $0,634 
per cubic yard; macadam, 18,332.5 cubic yards, at $1.57 per cubic yard; 1.846 
linear feet of 12-inch corrugated metal pipe, at $0.74 per foot; 1,038 linear feet 
of 15-inch corrugated metal pipe, at $0.90 per foot; 474 linear feet of lS-inch 
corrugated metal pipe, at $1.02 per foot; 832 linear feet of 24-inch corrugated 
metal pipe, at $1.48 per foot; 40 linear feet of 36-inch corrugated metal pipe, 
at $2.99 per foot ; 26 linear feet of 4S-inch corrugated metal pipe, at $4.29 per 
foot; 786 linear feet of 12-inch vitrified clay pipe, at $0.58 per foot; 190 linear 
feet of lo-inch vitrified clay pipe, at $0.78 per foot; 482 linear feet of 18-inch 
vitrified clay pipe, at $0.97 per foot ; 971 linear feet of 20-inch vitrified clay pipe, 
at $1,125 per foot; 764 linear feet of 24-inch vitrified clay pipe, at $1.76 per foot; 
39,054 pounds of steel I beams and rods, at $0,045 per pound ; 9,500 feet b. m. of 
bridge lumber, at $35 per thousand ; and crowning and shaping, 1,181,800 square 
yards, at $0.01 per square yard. 
The average earth excavation per mile was 4,326 cubic yards, and the 
average rock excavation per mile was 342 cubic yards. 
The project was strictly a cooperative enterprise, and each county provided 
the funds necessary to build the section of road within its boundaries. In 
several counties the funds raised were not available during the year 1912 and 
no actual construction could be attempted. The progress of the work as a 
whole would undoubtedly have been much better if the funds in these counties 
had been available. 
