Roads

It was not until the 1800s when roads were covered in an "artificial" surface of gravel. Soon to vollow were "corduroy" roads of small logs, some of which were just simple plank roads, laid side by side and covered with dirt for relative smoothness. Most of the roads were "macadam" which was introduced in the mid-1800s and consisted of tightly packed layers of crushed rock, covered with sand or finely crushed stone for a well bound surface. These methods still produced virtual dust bowls in dry weather and mucky swamps in wet weather. 

In 1906, the first State Highway Commission was created with a statewide annual budget of 8,000 dollars. This was not of much assistance to rural Louisa as local county taxes provided the principle source of revenue to cover the expense of road building. With meager funding, rutted trails became a common result.

It was not until the 1920s that asphalt treatment was introduced in Virginia, thus leading to the first "paved" roads. Concrete roads were also built during this period of time and called paved roads.