CHARLES CORNER—COUNTY ROADS. 
23 
Sand is a very effective foundation when confined, and is only improved 
by being wet. And if it work into the metal it will only increase the 
cohesion, and any settling or sinking will take place evenly by reason of 
the uniform spread of the sand bed within its limit of motion. I had 
thought this solution of the bad bottom roads original, but there is noth¬ 
ing new under the sun, and I find that the specification has been used on 
a boggy New York road with excellent results. 
In most soils, however, if the question of drainage and culverts be 
skillfully managed, it will be found sufficient to roll from 9 to 12 inches 
of good macadam in two or three layers, the larger stones of about 2^ 
inches in the bottom, and 2 inehes, 1^- inch, and screenings on top, in the 
order given. 
Rolling is an important matter. Steam rollers are better than horse 
rollers, and, weight for weight of actual rolling, are very much cheaper. 
Judicious sprinkling should also be kept up during the work. No rule 
can be given for this, but the behavior of the metal will act as a guide. 
Macadam himself, who has become, as it were, the tutelary divinity of 
country roads, relied entirely on the traffic to compact his road sur¬ 
faces. This, however, is very rough on the horses, and besides wears 
out a large per centage of the material. 
There is a horse roller made with a water tight drum, which upon be¬ 
ing filled increases the weight of the machine very greatly and gives 
more satisfactoi’y results than the ordinary one. 
For compacting roads in the first instance rollers with revolving discs 
of differing diamenters have been recommended as giving good results. 
Curbing becomes a question in particular cases. Where timber is at 
hand it can be used in the rough for this purpose. Too much can not be 
said as to the desirability of keeping the track clear of the mud of ad¬ 
jacent sideways, which, by the way, should generally be used by the 
people in good weather. 
As to maintenance, it should be continuous, and no road should be 
allowed to develop weaknesses that are not immediately attended to. 
Widening the tire of our heavy wagons, and to some extent of our 
carriages, has an important bearing on this subject. In the heaviest ve¬ 
hicles the front and hind wheels should not track, but move in parallel 
lines, thus serving in their very progress as a sort of a modified road 
roller. 
Frequently the chief expense indicated by this bare outline will be the 
placing of the material along the line of the road, and in this connection 
I have the following suggestion to make: Most farmers have a spare 
team and a little idle time. The younty commissioners might arrange, 
where possible, for the receipt of loads of road material at stated points on 
the work. These loads (they should also be yards) to be receipted for by 
