Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

people at present consider that no skill or training is necessary for this class of work. The Author has adopted a system of giving short lectures, illustrated by chalk sketches, to the road contractors for each district, and he has also supplied printed directions in the specifications for the execution of the work; also instructions as to procuring materials (Appendix III) and other important details. By such means as these, accompanied by frequent inspections and by stoppage of payments for imperfect work, he has succeeded, in all cases in which he has been well supported locally, in obtaining excellent work. If the County Surveyor has to execute the work with labour and materials procured by him, he is not free from difficulties, often caused by interested and unscrupulous opposition. In King's County wherever the Author has been able to group the roads under his charge into sections of 8 miles to 12 miles (within reasonable walking distance for the men) he has appointed gangers and staffs of trained men on each section; and in this way he has formed districts consisting of about 35 miles to 50 miles, over which he has placed overseers to supervise the work, take the time from the gangers, make out the pay-sheets, and generally carry out his instructions. Where the amount of money placed at his disposal was often very much less than contractors' prices, it has thus been possible to keep the roads in excellent order and to pay the increased staff, cost of implements and all expense of works, out of the money saved under this system; but the plan has met with considerable opposition from parties whose interests were certainly not identical with those of the ratepayers.

Stone-breaking machinery is not in general use, and the Author has found that where materials can be procured conveniently near the roads for which they are required, it is at present cheaper and better to rely upon hand-breaking. The hand-broken stones are sounder and more cubical than the machine-broken stones, and they wear longer as road-metal. Owing to the relative cheapness of labour in Ireland, hand breaking is much less expensive than in England, the prices ranging from 18. 6d. to 2s. per cubic yard. In King's County the present average rate is about 18. 6d. per cubic yard, and expert breakers earn between 20s. and 30s. per week in summer, paid by the job.

The main roads in Ireland are not generally so good as roads of the same class in England and Wales, but the average maintenance cost of the Irish main roads (if small steam-rolled portions in the neighbourhood of Dublin and Belfast are omitted) may be taken at about £42 per mile. Considering the difference in cost, and

bearing in mind the fact that the nearest available materials have in all cases to be used in Ireland, these main roads compare very favourably with those of England and Wales, while the secondary roads in Ireland are vastly superior to those of the same class in the latter countries. It may be stated generally that the cost of £12 98. per mile for maintenance and repairs has produced (under the supervision of the County Surveyors) a network of roads in Ireland which must be considered remarkably good; and it will be interesting to see what effect the new system, about to be introduced, of Local Government by popular election, will have upon the public roads in respect of cost and the condition in which they will be maintained.

It is to be hoped that under the new régime some better system will be devised than that which prevails in England with reference to divided authority between County Councils and District, Parish, and Urban Councils in the matter of costs and responsibility. The adjustment of these matters has given rise to much friction, and the existing Irish system is by no means exempt from similar difficulties. Grand juries, it will be remembered, have at present only the necessary powers to "repair" and "maintain " or to "make new roads," constructed with stone or gravel, while the Town Improvement Acts give to Town Commissioners the requisite powers for flagging, paving, &c. The Public Health Acts confer upon Sanitary Authorities the necessary powers to scavenge, cleanse, drain and sewer the towns. Latterly, especially in the South of Ireland, the practice has been for Town Commissioners and Sanitary Authorities to endeavour to transfer their duties and responsibilities to the Grand Juries, and to throw upon these bodies the cost of works which they have no statutory powers to undertake. It is true that such cases generally arise at the District or Presentment Sessions, but it will be necessary under a new scheme of Local Government to define clearly the relative duties of each authority and to provide for their proper execution; otherwise it is to be feared that the evils of the present system will tend to be greatly aggravated.

[APPENDIXES.

APPENDIXES.

APPENDIX I.

REGULATIONS RELATING TO COUNTY SURVEYORS' EXAMINATIONS.

The subjects for County Surveyors' examinations are grouped into two parts, viz., Part I, Theoretical, and Part II, Practical. The subjects comprised in Part I are Mathematics, including Geometry, Trigonometry, Algebra, Differential and Integral Calculus, and Geometrical Optics; Mechanical Philosophy, including Statics and Dynamics, Hydrostatics and Hydraulics, Pneumatics and Heat regarded as a source of power; Experimental Science, including Inorganic Chemistry, Heat, Electricity and Magnetism, Geology and Mineralogy. Part II comprises Railway and Canal Engineering; Marine Engineering, including Harbours, Docks, and Reclamation Works; Hydraulic Engineering, including Water-supply, Sewage and Irrigation; County Works, including Architecture, Roads, Drainage, and River works. Each of the subjects in Part II includes the drawing of designs, estimates and specifications, and mechanical contrivances connected therewith, for works required as described in the examination papers. The successful candidates must, after the examination, show that they have been engaged in the actual practice of their profession for an adequate time on important works, either of their own design, or as responsible engineers in carrying out such works.

APPENDIX II.

GENERAL SPECIFICATION FORM FOR MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC ROAD IN

KING'S CO.

1. Immediately after the presentment is made at the ensuing Assizes, the surface is to be cleaned, holes and ruts levelled, stagnant water drained off, dangerous holes fenced, the road made safe and convenient for traffic, and afterwards repaired as hereinafter specified, from time to time, or continuously as may be necessary, and maintained constantly in good order during the contract, clean, hard, and even at all seasons, and without having at any time a large quantity of fresh material on the surface.

feet broad, defined

2. The working or gravelled way is to be at least by parallel lines, straight or regularly curved according to the direction; in towns or villages the gravelled way is to extend to the paved channels or edges of the footpaths, and to the fences or buildings where there are no footpaths.

3. The surface of the working way is to be formed with a slight curve transversely, having a fall from the centre to the side of 1 inch to 4 feet.

4. An offset is to be made each side of the working way, of sods or clay, at least 18 inches wide and 4 inches above the level of the water tables, neatly trimmed to the lines above specified; the offsets and the wastes at each side of the fences are to be kept clear from loose stones, rubbish and weeds, levelled evenly and preserved in grass.

5. The surface is to be kept clean and made even, by picking and levelling

ruts and inequalities, by picking up and removing all stones appearing that are above 2 inches in their greatest dimensions, and by a judicious application of new materials when necessary.

6. There are to be applied annually

cubic yards of broken stones and

cubic yards of prepared gravel, and more if necessary for the proper maintenance of the road.

The broken stones to be sound and hard, each particle to be not more than 2 inches in its greatest dimensions, free from clay, sand, or any extraneous matter.

The gravel to be prepared free from clay, sand, or small particles less than inch in their least dimensions, and free from stones above 1 inch in their greatest dimensions.

The materials are to be delivered for measurement on or before the 1st October each year, in depots arranged, and distributed at suitable intervals on the sides or margins of the road, but not out on the working way, squared, and put up 1 foot deep and so as to contain 10 cubic yards each. The sites for the depots must be levelled and cleared off, and the bottom made perfectly even. The materials when squared and ready for measurement are to be 1 foot in depth, and if found on opening any depot that it is made up on banks, clay, uneven surfaces, or otherwise in such manner as might deceive the Assistant, the same will be considered as fraudulently made up and proceedings may be taken accordingly. The Assistant will not be bound to measure more than two <lepots-any two he may select. Materials which are of an unsuitable quality or not properly prepared as specified will not be measured, and the contractor will get no credit for such materials. The stones and gravel to be in distinct heaps, distributed as may be directed. Notice in writing of the delivery of the materials is to be served on the Assistant before the 25th September, in each year.

The materials are to be judiciously applied to the worn portions of the surface, to correct the formation and increase the strength of the crust, in pieces not less than 1 yard nor more than 5 yards in length, in the form of the worn portions, not squared and in no case in drills, but disposed skilfully to induce the traffic to beat promiscuously over the working way. At each application the old surface is to be picked and loosened to the depth of inchrather deeper at the edges, and large stones to be picked out; the pieces are to be kept raked in and consolidated by blinding and pounding. When the surface becomes rutted, which can only occur by bad management or neglect, the drills are to be picked transversely and levelled, to let the water drain from the ruts to the sides, and pieces put in as before directed; the whole supply of materials specified are to be applied from time to time during the winter and spring seasons, before the 1st April each year; but on roads of very heavy traffic a small portion (if directed by the Surveyor) may be reserved for repairs in wet weather that may occur in summer and autumn.

7. The water tables are to be kept clean, and sufficient outlets made and kept open for the proper discharge of the surface waters, the gullets clear, back, side and catch drains, with outfalls, to be scoured and deepened, if necessary, for the effective drainage of the road; the waters adjoining to be kept at least feet below the surface.

8. The stuff scraped from the surface is to be removed as soon as practicable from the working way, and used together with stuff taken from the water tables, drains, or in any way procured, in the operations herein specified for levelling and raising the sides, repairing fences, or otherwise for the benefit of the road, as directed by the Surveyor, and the remainder removed.

9. The pavements and parapets of the bridges and gullets on the road are to be repaired when necessary, and all works connected therewith preserved from dainage, trespass, and free from dung heaps and nuisances; notice of any sudden damage by flood or otherwise, to be given to the Surveyor in writing within two days of the occurrence.

10. The contractor is to provide, at his own expense, all implements and materials necessary for the execution of the works, and a copy of this specification, and produce it to the Surveyor when required.

11. The whole of the works herein specified are to be executed in a judicious, effective, and workmanlike manner, in every particular necessary for the repair, constant maintenance in good order, and improvement of the road, according to the true intent and meaning of this specification, and to the satisfaction of the County Surveyor.

12. The footpaths along the road to be maintained in good order, by picking up and removing the large stones, correcting the formation, and by the application of properly prepared materials.

All fences erected at the expense of the county to be kept in repair by the

contractor.

APPENDIX III.

INSTRUCTIONS AS TO MATERIALS.

The materials must be prepared of the size specified, and are to be delivered for measurement on or before the 1st October next, in depots arranged, and distributed at suitable intervals on the sides or margins of the road, but not out on the working way, squared, and put up not less than 1 foot deep, and so as to contain 10 cubic yards each. The sites for the depots must be levelled and cleared off, and the bottom made perfectly even. The materials when squared and ready for measurement are to be 1 foot in depth, and if found on opening any depot, that it is made up on banks, clay, uneven surfaces, or otherwise in such manner as might deceive the Assistant, the same will be considered as fraudulently made up, and proceedings may be taken accordingly. The Assistant will not be bound to measure more than two depots-any two he may select. Materials which are of an unsuitable quality, or not properly prepared as specified, will not be measured, and the contractor will get no credit for such materials. The stones and gravel to be in distinct heaps, distributed as may be directed. Notice in writing of the delivery of the materials is to be served on the Assistant before the 25th September next.

supplied on or before the cubic yards of prepared distributed, and ready for

The total quantity which you are bound to have 1st October is cubic yards of broken stones, and gravel, but if the full quantity is not out, properly measurement on the 1st October, the application for payment will be disallowed at Sessions.

Contractors will not be permitted to deviate from the specification by substituting gravel for broken stones, or broken stones for gravel, unless permission in writing is given to the contractor.

« ZurückWeiter »