The record-union., 1897-01-16
MACADAM Us. COMMON ROADS,
Economy in Teamins Over Good High
Ways.
Some Important Facts Set Forth by
the State Bureau of
Highways.

A report has been printed for general
distribution by the State Bureau OF
highways, which contains some very
important facts relative to the differ
ence in the cost of teaming over good
macadam and common earth roads
The report says:
THE average haul in our State is 23.3
miles and the cost per ton per mile is Y
cents, while the average in the UNITED
States is % cents per ton. The total
tonnage is given at 313,349,22i, and II
costs the enormous sum of $946,4l4,-
665 81 to transport it on the highways
The value of all farm products for 1890
was So, ,4S0, 10, 454. In other words it
takes nearly 40 cents to market 81
worth of farm produce.
The increase in cost of hauling act
ually done is by no means the only loss
by bad roads. The loss of perishable
products for want of access to market,
the failure to reach market when prices
are good, and the failure to cultivate
products which would be marketable if
markets We're always accessible, add
many millions to the actual tax of bad
roads.
Moreover, the enforced idleness of
millions of men and draught animals
during large portions of the year is a
loss not always taken into account in
estimating the cost of work actually
done. Information already in the Of
flee of the Department of Road Inquiry
indicates that all things being consid-
cred nearly. if not quite, two-thirds of
this vast expense may be saved by road
Improvement, and this at a total cost
not exceeding the losses of three, or at
the most of four years by bad roads.
"A machine weighing 5000 pounds
was drawn four miles on the Brook
turnpike, a macadamized road. 1t re-
quired four mules (4,000 pounds to a
mule) and one and half hours of time,
at cost of - cents per mule per hour,
or at a cost of 80 cents for four miles
After travelling four miles on the mac
adamized turnpike the route was over
about 1000 feet of dirt road.
ITO travel these 1000 feet it was nee
essary to use ten of the best mules and
seven men, and with this force lit took
nine hours to complete the journey. The
cost was $40 so, at which rate to have
Travelled over four miles of such road
would have cost 5000 0S: in other
words, S20S IS was absolutely thrown
away for want of macadam road.
Such a macadam road as would have
prevented this enormous waste of
money could have been built for about
500 per mile for every foot of width
that is to say, a 12-foot road would cost
$1,000 per mile, a 16-foot road would
cost 81 600 per mile, etc. From this one
can realize the enormous sum that is
wasted annually on our present system
of highways.
In California the conditions are SO
favorable to the construction of per
manent roads that, with proper legisla-
ton, it can reasonably be hoped that
the Golden State will set an example to
all others in the Union. The absence of
snow and frost obviates one of the great
difficulties that must be contended with
in the Eastern States and the presence
throughout the State of excellent mate
rial for highway construction is great
aid to the advancement of the move
ment for good roads.
The vast waste incurred by bad
roads being clear, the problem of rem
edying the evil presents itself. The
subject has received the attention of
able minds and the solution which has
proven most satisfactory is the con-
struction, under expert direction by the
State, of permanent main highways.
Roads must be properly located and in
telligently constructed, and to comply
with these requirements experience has
shown that qualified persons removed
from local influences are better able to
carry out this beneficial plan of inter
nal Improvement"