The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1906-08-23
EXPERIMENT WITH
OIL ON Streets

Salem is experimenting with oilinR
the streets to lay the dust, and is well
satisfied with the results. The States
man says:
The advocates of an experiment
with oil on the streets declare that
there is no ground for opposition to
it on the score of disagreeable smell
resulting, or of the oil being tracked
into the buildings, or dresses being
injured on the crossings. The sug-
gestion is made that the crossings
should not be oiled, or that the
streets for two or three feet on either
side of the crossings; also that some
attention should be given to keeping
the main crossings swept, and these
precautions would leave no possibility
of disagrePable experience.
Another point in favor of extensive
use of oil upon the streets is that 1t
would destroy all the growth of grass
and weeds, leaving the entire surface
clean, which of itself would add much
to the beauty of the city. With the
purpose of obtaining direct informa-
tion on The subject, Statesman re
porter interviewed some of the Salem
citizens who have had personal obser.
walton of roads and streets where oil
is used.
George W. johnson, the clothing
merchant, who spent last winter in
Los Angeles and Long Beach, Cal. =,
said on the suject:
"They use a great deal of oil on the
streets and roads down there and the
effect is to make good solid roads
without any dust. 1t forms a tough
flexible surface similar in appearance
to asphalt, so that vehicles ron over
it without noise. | II, ticed Lno COM
pIaint whatever on account of smell.
Immediately afte. being put on, OF
for three or four days, there is liza
ilty of adhering to the shoes and be-
ing tracked into buildings, but that
liability passes away and there is nc
trouble.
"The character of the soil in that
country is a sandy mixture, but l can
not see but the nature of our soil
would insure even better results.
There is more body and substance to
our soil and it ought to make more
compact surface. The country roads
there are all oiled and give the best
satisfaction. | think only one appli.
cation of oil each year is necessary,
though | am not positive on this
point
81 did not learn the actual cost oi
the oiling but am informed that it II
not expensive. | AIN not informed,
either, of the best arrangements fol
applying it. An oiled roadway makes
hard riding for bicyclists. The soft
rubber tire seems to hang to the
springy, flexible coating and it is very
difficult to pump" with speed
Hard rubber buggy tires, however, are
not effected by it.
al believe the oiling experiment il
worth trying in Salem and that il
once tried 1t would be brought into
general use. "
E. Cook Patton, the stationery
merchant, who returned short tlm'
ago from an extended tour of South
eTn California, said: "By all meanI
give us oiled streets. From my OBJ
seryation while in Southern Caflifor
MIA recently, paid great deal OF at
tention to the oil streets there anC
they certainly looked gocd to me
They had the appearance of asphalt
did not notice any disagreeabl
smell, and rode over places tina
we're freshly sprinkled. OF cours
when the oil is first applied, tn
streets do look rather sticky, but thl
appearance soon becomes changed
Why, do you know, the Pacific. Else
IN oil nf fhaI
out-of-town lines with oil, and tel
YOU it's mighty fine for their passen
gers. for it gives cooling look an
there's not bit of dusty atmospher
to breath. | would like to see Seller
give it trial. We are willing t
stand our share of the expense in th
try out. So let's pull together lik
our sister state of California; and Civ
us better streets and Greater Salem
--Amen!"