ROADMAKING IN BARRABA IN 1911

ROADMAKING IN BARRABA IN 1911

Another example of what a progressive far sighted place Barraba was in 1911. The account below from Trove

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Manilla Express (NSW : 1899 - 1954), Saturday 3 June 1911, page 2

ROAD-MAKING BY MACHINERY

BARRABA SHIRE'S PROGRESSIVE MOVE. -INSPECTION OF THE PLANT.

On Wednesday last a public exhibition of the road-making plant, recently installed by the Barraba Shire Council, was given by the council at Oakey Creek, 16 miles beyond Barraba. In response to invitations representatives of Gwydir Shire Council, Barraba Municipal Council, and Mandowa Shire Council were present, in addition to a number of other enterprising residents of Barraba town and district. Among those present were noticed the following:--Barraba Shire Council.—Crs. D. Capel (president), J. Morrow, W. Garske, C. G. Williams, and P. Woolfe. Gwydir Shire.—Crs. J. Veness (president), and Charters; Mr. Carter (engineer). Mandowa Shire.—Crs. M. F. M'Keon (president), W. Blanch, J. T. Byrnes, P. Donnelly, James Shields, and D. MacDonald. Mr.

1. K. Telfer (engineer). Barraba Municipal Council.—The Mayor (Ald. W. Morrow), Ald. O. Rabe, W.Douglas, Saunders, Evans, and Myers. Also a number of representative town and district men.

The Manilla visitors went through to the scene of the trial in two motor cars, supplied under engagement by Messrs. O'Dell and Veness. The councillors had a splendid trip up, leaving Manilla at 20 past 9, and arriving at Oakey Creek soon, after 11. They were, as were other visitors, cordially received. In inspection was made of the plant before lunch, and in the afternoon the full machinery was seen in working order. The plant consists of — Stone-Crusher. 8 h.p. Portable Engine. Scarifier. 4 Hopper Trucks. Grader. The total cost was in round numbers £2000. The stone is being quarried in the face of the creek bank, and is carted about half a mile to the crusher in a tip-dray. This turnout, by the way, is worthy of note as the horse is a fine animal, the harness is well kept, with dazzling plateware and coloured ribbons. The owner, Joseph Hynes, is very proud of his turn-out—and he has good cause to be. " Too-toot !" " Toot-toot-toot !" The engine whistled. A lever was pressed, the fly wheel set off on a speedy revolution. The roaring and groaning of the crusher 'rose to a frenzied whirr as the large stone was reduced to metal. The power of the crusher is remarkable, for heavy lumps of rock dropped into the receiving shute, are immediately reduced to metal, and carried by means of the elevator into the truck above. The hopper trucks each hold six yards of metal, and the four of them were easily filled that morning. When they were filled, the engine was drawn out, and attached to the scarifier, a small but weighty steel, plough arrangement, with three mighty tusks in the centre. The scarifier weighs three tons, and as it is drawn behind the engine, the outside line of the road is broken up fit for the grader.

Our representative was informed that the scarifier is capable of tearing up an old metal road. Next the grader was brought into use, and by means of a long steel knife the ground was cut out and formed to the right convexity. Then the trucks, laden with the metal were hooked on, and as the bottoms were opened out, the metal poured on to the newly and quickly formed road. This process of metalling is undoubtedly very quick and effective, specially when the grader has once more been used to level off the metal. To complete the road drains are cut on either side by the grader, and loosened earth being thrown over the metal to form a binding.

Everything worked without a hitch on Wednesday. Although the piece of roadway was very favourable, being of an alluvial nature. Chatting with the engineer (Mr. Grant) we were supplied with some figures which show the merits of the road-making plant. Mr. Grant says he can now have a chain of road formed for 8s. Just prior to the introduction of the machinery a length of road was done, and the forming cost £2 16s per chain. A few days ago Mandowa let a contract which panned out at £2 3s per chain. The cost of crushing the stone is 1s 6d per yard, and laying the metal 1s 4d per yard—these figures cover cost of working, wages, interest, and depreciation. The length of road operated on on Wednesday was four chains, and the forming was completed within an hour, and two chains of metal spread in less than 30 minutes. After the demonstration the plant was christened " The Piedmont." Mrs. Capel, wife of the President (Cr. D. Capel, of Piedmont Station) named the plant, by breaking a bottle of wine over one of the large wheels of the traction engine. Hearty cheers were given for the President, Mrs. Capel, and the plant. Mr. Capel said he was very pleased to see so many present that day. He hoped, and believed, that the plant would be a success. We hope it will be at any rate. (A visitor: So do we.")

President McKeon (Mandowa) said that the representatives of Mandowa Shire were very pleased to be present on the auspicious occasion to see the great demonstration of road work by machinery. They had come specially from Manilla for the purpose, and speaking for himself he was very pleased and delighted at what he had seen, and the work which had been done. Speaking as an old practical road maker he was more than delighted with the result. He hoped the plant would be found to be successful, for he thought that the Barraba Shire had embarked on the right line, and they had to be commended for the enterprising spirit they had displayed. He wished the plant, the shire, and the whole district every success the world could afford. (Loud applause.) President J. C. Veness (of Bingara) said, on behalf of the Gywdir Shire, it afforded him great pleasure to be present to see the christening of the engine and plant. He could not claim to have had any practical experience in road making, but he knew when he travelled over a good piece of road or a bad piece of work. He was very pleased to see a neighbouring shire embarking on such a valuable investment as a road-making plant, and he thought they would find that their confidence had not been misplaced. He had no doubt that the progressive move made by the Barraba Shire would be an incentive to other shires to go and do likewise. (Applause.)

Mr. C. G. Williams, (Barraba), said he was glad to hear someone say something in favour of the road-making plant. Up to the present they had been freely told it would be a "white elephant." He still thought they had done the right thing. The President and himself had gone all the way to Orange to see the road-making plant there, before the Barraba Shire took any action. He felt sure the venture would turn out satisfactorily. (Hear, hear, and applause) Mr. Kent (engineer) thanked the councillors for the confidence they had reposed in him by purchasing the plant, after his recommendation. They were really bold men, but he would stake his reputation that the plant would do all that was expected of it. The councillors deserved an enormous amount of praise for their enterprise. A group photo of the plant and visitors was then taken by Mr. Percy Williams, who secured many pictures during the day. An al fresco luncheon was provided by the President's family. The Bingara visitors (who also travelled by motor car) and the Manilla representatives, left about 3.30. The local councillors expressed satisfaction with the work done by the plant. Their opinions are rapidly summed up in two words, "Very Good." The trucks are solid iron bark, and discharge from an opening in the bottom (5 feet wide) as thick or thin as desired.