The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1905-03-03
OILED ROADS TO REPLACE MACADAM

OILED ROADS TO REPLACE MACADAM
Those who are interested in good
roads are now watching the work
ing effects of an experiment that is
being carried on in California. Per-
haps however it is not fair to thus
name the enterprise, as the practical
effects seem to warrant the perma-
nent adoption of this method.
In the general move for better high
ways, the progressive state of Cali
fornia has been seriously handi-
capped on account of the lack ofstone
and the almost insufferable summer
dust which makes pleasure riding ex-
tremely disagreeable. The practical
solution of these two difficulties
seems solved in the utilization of her
extensive production of petroleum.
The crude product has two impor-
tant elements; asphaltum, solid,
brittle substance and petroline thick
black liquid which remains stable
under ordinary atmospheric condi-
tons. 1t is these qualities, combined
with the dust-absorbents of the other
compositions of crude oil that have
made the new system success.
The road bed must be finely pulver-
lied to depth of 10 or - inches
deep over the whole surface. This is
necessary so as to have an even set
Ting of the road bed, to guard
against any uneveness of the oil
crust, which would mean a rapid
wearing out Of the road. When the
ground has become dry and hard,
the oil is put on. Sometimes crude
petroleum is used and sometimes
asphalt residuums. The oil is heated
to 10 degrees, or even higher, as it
spreads more rapidly and is more
quickly absorbed by the soil. The
main expense is in heating the oil as
the necessary plants are expensive
but it is found that cold oil will not
answer the purpose.
Prices for crude oil in California
range from sixty-fve cents to one
dollar per barrel according to ship
ping distance. 1t is claimed that the
oil is cheaper for road building pur-
poses even when it must be brought
a great distance. The amount ap-
piled varies from 100 barrels to 800
barrels for an IS foot surface per
mile. The cost of the application is
about fifteen dollars per mile. Often
a second coating is given and the sur
face spread over with coarse sand or
gravel to aid in the absorption.
When completed, the oiled road
costs about one and one half cents
afoot Compare this with macadam
and the difference is enormous. OF
course in Maryland shipping charges
would have to be added and this
would somewhat increase the rate.
The oiled road bed wears we'll under
the heaviest traffic. There is no dust
and the dark brown color is restful
to the eye, especially in the summer
time.
These facts are worthy of consider
ton to our road makers and if the
expense is so much less and the adj.
vantages greater, it would be we'll
for our State Department to serious
ly consider the adoption of oilinstead
of stone. We acknowledge our in
debtedness to the Country Life of
America for a portion of the above
statistics.
DR.. OSLER CREATES A SENSATION.
In point of public notriety, DR..
William Osler, of the Johns Hopkins,
seems to outrival the famous Cassie
Chadwick or even Tom Lawson, but
instead of tackling financial prob
lens, the learned physician has
startled the world by announcing
that no man is any good over 40,
and after 60 his retirement is an
absolute requirement for the good of
the worlds achievements. The
right or wrong of this position will
probably appeal to us as we see
personally it, yet the absurdity of
such an expression is very apparent
when applied to life in general. This
speech was made before a body of
lettered men-the alumni of the
University, many of them having the
same profession as the Doctor; and
there is doubtless force in the point
that the labor of laboratory work
can be most satisfactorily performed
by young men. But this doctrine
can be carried to an absurdity as the
Regius Professor Of Oxford, seems to
have done in his after explanations.
Rob the world of the work con-
scientiously performed by those
whose views are the result of years
ofexperience and we are backward
nation built upon the inexperience
and yaoarieS of Youth Until the