New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-20
TRUCKS AND ASPHALT
soME VIEWS AS TO THE PROPER WIDTH AVN
SETTING OF WHEELS
To The Editor OF The Tribune

VI WHEELS
To The Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir In the number Of Sunday. August 2 Va,
published an article headed Trucks ara Asos,i,
giving opinions from various 20 the eri,,
and demerits Of this form Of pavement. The .,a,..
men,s made in this article evidently biased du.
TO the point 81 view which each OF tho person,
mentioned takes VI tho matter. The argument th,,
asphalt is affected by the climate no doub, iru. ,,
a certain extent BY observing. however. the stree,.
Of this city aspha,d various times y)u will no,.
that not All Of the aspha; Il affected by Inc Gilman.
10 the same degree. showing therefore hat where
Is aNoc:ed by the Innate 10 any great extent rs An.
10 faulty composition other o. tho ssr,,
raturo.
As rexarIs the matter Of atphali bc.ng slipD,rv-
that H. THAI horses apt 20 ftl down Oh l t nav
be observed thai that - probably TINE A. tns mo.
ment This fact hcvcvfr. IS NOT - much 9le % no
asphal, being slippery s 70 rho zee. pt horse.
ar. not accustomed g. ard ia hHt nafnrsl ina,
horses or even persons chtnginE suddenly from ,
rough surface Tx tho block pseAnlen' % smooth
surface like asphalt WI! IN many cases p and fall
This however would not Ocrur verc al me streets
covered Win the material Tho s'.pDer.noss az
asphalt H. no, due much to dam moss il ia 70 N.
combination OF moisture Hirh slight amount - mud
venture to asser thai perfectly ci'sn wcf piece o.
asphal, Il roi any more slippery fnan = we're ir,
The po.n; raised bv Mr. Hradey thar heav.y
loaded truck sinks in tho asphalt = not DE % The
ssphit so much a. IL b. 10 the extremely faulty ION.
siruciion Of his trucks. \ truck nieEl'd 70 AIRY
five tons should have wheels O. l'as ~ Inches y Dc
and the front wheels should track iasde " N.
rear Ones thus distributing he load over one 10, o,
bearing surSace on each side. ami rolling ne sfrs.-
surfsc. for a width Of TWO feet ever" limo mov..
over H. instead Of cutting a mario" fui IN the asphalt
There il no doub ths every m,n - oorimon-s.nse
vii avoid a single block OF ae2ns. inasnuch a. he
change from the rough surface or which me horse
IL accustomed 10 be l. 40 Abrup, ani - surprising
A. to cause a Oss OF balance AMI fail D. il rather
surprising Tat the ciil aufr )rit'- should 80 .pch
poor Judgment as 70 insert block ~ perfectly smooth
pavement between Other blocks - rough block pave
ment.
cuslvely confined heavy trucking In tho over part
OF the city Is certinlv criterion hv which 70 l1ig.
OF the drsrabili;y IF aspaalted streets over ihos.
covered with the noisy. i'rtN block pIr'n~ni Their
knowledge only tho use ~ Tho after and their
experience in the use Il asphalt j. 50 iimed 70 Dc
wcrthles There il. however room Dr d0ub, a. 70
the desirability Of appalling any down. an street
where heavy trucking IL carried on TO any great En-
tent Its only advantage IN the downtown streets IL
II would certainly bc desirable 10 have one or tn,
streets leading from uptown to the various ferries
asphaed to their whole extent. THIS wouf enah.
persons pleasure bent to use light vehicles and
BICYCLES and reach the ferries IN 4, less comfort.
able manner. The fact that such streets would then
not be used by heavy trucks would De rather ds-
srable feature. there plenty u Dtler sfree's
which can be used for the heavy iraiic
Ii would certainly seem very desirable % neor-
poraie in the laws Of tho STATE parssrsph f,rbdlng
after certain date say two years from now. 80
construction Of any moro vehicles tho Win ~ whose
tires did not correspond with certain -rh"i ." his
schedule TO he duly onsdere1 ami A. ar a. possible
based upon similar laws which now eXisi m England.
France, ard other Continental cDuntr-s. For 'rlrk
of the heaviest kind say ono intended % carry
load 81 four tons Whereabouts. width of'-k inches
would be about right the front Wh"e.s % track nst.
of the hind wheels The width - the tres 81 oihsr
vehicles should be in the same ratio
paragraph should also DO added 20 The effect mar
old vehicles should after certain number Of wears.
not he provided with new Hhess unless tho later
conformed 10 the laws then in force THIS nouf
within few wears result IN Tho production If Rhsels
conforming d standard type which NQe "opf "a
shown be the best from economic p1r' ~ Fie~.
both regards increasing the capacity n each horss
and also as regards the and tear Of The public
highway. VI. l. n.
York August. 5 1896