ROAD TO GROPER’S BUSH STATION.

Western Star, Issue 347, 1 May 1880, Page 5

ROAD TO GROPER’S BUSH STATION.

TO THE EDIXOB. g [R) —Tha report of the committee, of the Road Board re road to Groper’s railway station may be apt to make it appear to persons unacquainted with the locality that the settlers of that neighbourhood are requesting a road to be made wiiioh they may almost as well do without. Allow me a short space to lay the actual facts before the public through your valuable columns; The report says that it is not advisable to make the road us at present laid off, because there is a big hill and three big gullies in its course, and it makes so many bends that it is only 44 chains further to Fairfax and 234 chains to Thornbury. “ Consequently the committee are of opinion that those roads are sufficient to meet the requirements of the present traffic but it adds, as if half conscious of the weakness of the argument, •‘seeing that there are also sidings at Jacob’s River bridge,” The settlers may ask, Where is the road to these sidings ? The report then goes on with a “ but,” and an if ” and an “ and,” which render it unlikely to be ever entertained. It would cost so much in purchase and compensation, since it would cut one farm into triangles, damage a lignite pit, and cross another man’s property at a most inconvenient place, to recommend a straight road for some remote future, “ not requiring cuttings except formation on the flat.” Except the figures quoted the report gives no statistical information whatever, and it would appear as if the Board’s Engineer had not been, consulted in the matter, further perhaps than to give the relative distances as measured on the map. Now, Sir, to give some facts that will enable the public to understand the matter better; The actual distance from the G roper’s station in a straight line to the nearest punt on the main or County road is 71 chains. Of this 43£ chains traverse the existing road line, and con sists, beginning at the station, of 20 chains of river flab already ditched on both sides, and for the formation of which 2000 cubic yards of earth would be amply sufficient. The ascent to the terrace occupies 8 chain-, the greater part an easy gradient, but more abrupt towards the top, from which part if the soil mentioned were taken in a gradual slope the difficulties of the ascent would be at once overcome. The top of the terrace is then level for 14 chains, after which the first gully is reached, If chains with its sides, and requiring a culvert and 300 cubic yards cut from the ierrucs on either side, to fill it up and mase the ascent and descent easy. The soil thus obtained would be very suitable for the formations described, being of that kind which sets almost like cement after a season. So far, I think, the work will not have been expensive The road from this point turns round at right angles towards the south, going in part round three sides of the halves of sections 33 and 31, on the first side of which are two bad gullies, and the roa I generally is rough. How then to avoid this muchness and circuit, and .yet to get 27i chains farther, all (hat is now required to get to (he County road, and on a perfect levet ? The committee could not see it, though it lias i\ot scrupled to point out another straight road that would make havoc of private property. The latter road would require too 25 chains or more of formation on the flat, is to ditch as well, the soil from which ditches would not be good for road making; so, in spite of their report, cuttings would have to be made somewhere to get the material, besides, though the ascent to the terrace is expanded over a larger surface, there are still some abrupt irregularities eveu on that course- to level clown. —1 am, &c. f SeXXI/88.