Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-03-26
STEEL RURAL ROADS
EXPENSIVE BUT SAID TO BE
VERY ADVANTAGEOUS.
COSTING $4,000 PER MILE
Tests and Fea tg~ss of the New Meth
cd of Roadmaking-DesirabiIity of
Such a Highway-Maintenan at
Minimum and Interest Rates
Low.

New York Times-A radical change
in methods of roadmaking throughout
the world appears now TO be probable,
and it would seem quite time that
some change should be made. The
whole Christian era, with all its ad-
vancement of arts and sciences, has
seen no improvement in this particu-
lar art. The best stone roads Of today
are no better than the ancient Roman
ways OF the prehistoric Peruvian
roads; not SO good, in fact, for, while
their surface is the same their fouu-
dations are inferior. 1t may be said,
therefore, that in a concern so vital
to the general well being Of the hui
man race as its primary means Of COM
munication, the world has practically
stood still for 20 centuries. This fact
challenges the intelligence of this pro
gressive age, and it is not surprising
that the nations are waking up to it,
and that some Of the talent heretofore
employed in the perfection of rail and
water was is now deyOting itself to
the improvement of the common high
way The demand for better methods
is widespread, and the logic of that
demand is clear; there is no more rea-
son for running a wagon over stones
and dirt than there would be loco
motive, when the same means are
available to smooth the way of both.
Naturally, therefore, the engineer and
inventor take up the application Of
steel to wagon ways and many expert
ments are being made in that direc-
ton Germany, which country leads
in this field at present, had over so
miles of steel roads in various forms
as to rail and foundation laid in 1901,
and these roads are reported as being
lin great favor among drivers" while
official tests show that from three to
five times as great load can be moved
thereon as with the same effort on a
stone pavement.
The desirability of these roads has
been questioned, but Spain has had a
short steel road in successful opera
ton for 1G or II years, running from
the city of Valencia to it's seaport, and
under travel of 5000 vehicles daily,
careful measurement shows only a
small fraction of wear in that period,
while tin plates laid across a bridge in
Canada have stood four times as
long under heavy traffic. Some eXper-
iments have been made in the United
States on a small scale and with ill
sufficient means, and have resulted in
nothing determinate, but upon the ret.
ommendation of the writer, and with
the cooperation of Mr.. Schwab of the
United States steel corporation. the
automobile club of America is now
making a thorough test of steel ways
for various kinds of vehicles. The
steel wheelway in Murray street, the
first practical essay Of the club in the
improvement of street conditions, has
been favOrably received and is bearing
constant testimony to the excellence
of its method Many drivers, not in
formed of its character, still avoid the
steel plates thinking they cover some
electric or other conduit, but those
who use them pronounce them perfect.
The time is ripe. therefore, to consider
the question where and how the meth
Cd can be applied in the city, having
in view the three great objects to be
attained-frst, the ease Of freight
movement; second. the relief of car
riage travel, and third, the clearance
of way for the street cars. The Muir
ray street line is formed of parallel L.
inch plates, four and half feet apart,
with downward flanges resting in bro
ken stone, and very slightly raised
edges as guides for the wheels; the
stone pavement is laid little higher
than these guides, and about an inch
above the general surface of the
plates, but sloping toward them, so
that wagons drift naturally into the
wheelway but turn out of it without
any difficulty. This specimen road is
already attracting much official atten-
ton. The highway department of the
city is considering its application to
various lines where heavy trucking
exists, or where it could be drawn
from other streets to the relief of
streets and avenues now congested.
The United States government,
through its road bureau. is asking 70
have steel for a road in the District
of Columbia. Commissioner Budd Of
New Jersey fayOrs q steel road across
the Hacl1ensack meadows: and over
the sea comes an inquiry from the
department of public works of Lon
don.
Whenever and wherever it becomes
possible to build roads exclusively for
motor cars and bicycles the ideal con-
structiOn would be a wheelway like
that in Murray street, but without
guides and with fluctuations in the
plates laid on heavy grades to prevent
the slipping Of wheels in wet weather
the roadbed graded nearly fiat, with
no bitches and only shallow grassed
cutters. and with the space between
and outside of the plates all we'll laid
down in grass. On such a road there
will be no dust or mud. no glare from
sunlight, nor reelected heat: while the
road itself will suffer no wash from
rain and no wear Of any kind. and if
it is bordered with hedges and w tn
out trees, no serious accident would
be possible to any motor at it's highest
speed 1t will be like driving over a
fine lawn. except that the power re-
quired will be almost nil. The in
crease of motor cars will increase The
demand for SOpciaI roads and in f.-T;1