The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-06-14
THE DUST PROBLEM.
A Series Of Road Tests in England
Seeking a Remedy.


The latest batch OF letters to the Mail
On the national dust problem include
some communications Of an interesting
practical nature which show The anxiety
prevalent throughout the country to find
q remedy for this evil.
The Motifs Automobile Club has set u
noteworthy example. In order to mini
mize the dust nuisance as much us in
their power lies the committee have de-
cided that no club runs shall henceforth
be organized by them. This decision
will obyiate any large number of cars
following each other upon country roads
and aggravating the dust unplcasantness
which aiitomobilists cannot prevent,
Motifs Club has accordingly cancelled all
the runs already arranged for the season,
except those IN respect OF private invita-
tions, and will endcavor, as hitherto, 70
study tile comfort 81 country residents
and other users OF the roads.
The Roads Improvement Association
has an interesting passage on the dust
problem IN the annual report which will
Ne considered.
A Joint committee of this body and
the Automobile Mutual Protection Assoc
Eciation is now organizing experiments
with several different kinds Of dustiass
Iroal material ID order to test their com
Iparatise effectiveness, durability and cost.
| The Roads Improvement Association is
Itself prepared to contribute ~ 900 to-
wards the expense of these experiments.
"A length Of the London Maidstone foad
has been suggested for the tests. Lengths
lof about quarter Of mile will be laid,
each with particular material, sntii-
Gent To insure that each material can be
studied BY itself, and 1T either end Of
the experimental section and in other
stretches Of the same road there will be
lengths 81 the ordinary granite material
treated with tar and other processes.
While 80 acting the association holds
that experiments Of this kind should be
conducted BY the State which should AL.
Wise the local authorities on the hest
means Of mixing aud repairing their
roads. a depntation from the associa-
lion will approach the president Of the
Local Government Board
SuppIcmentingA the letters from conn
NV surveyors showing how the county
governing bodies are dealing with the
question. we have i communication from
the county surveyor OF ilerefoTdshire,
Mr.. Alfred Dryland, who writes:
The county council has not at pres
ent taken any steps. Fortunately, we
are not 50 inundated with motorcars as
those tarmac on the road at Datchet;
but the districts AUDITING from the me-
tropolis and the large cities, and our
roads being almost entirely coated with
Clcc Hill hasalt are more free from dust
than some counties where inferior kinds
of road metal are used. Our general
traffic is comparatively light, which i
another reason for the dust nuisance be-
ing less marked
"Bnt with all our advantages in these
respects the nuisance il very appreciable,
and is increasing rapidly. ! expect in
time we shalt be driven TO incnr expendi,
turc 20 abate the trouble, although an
agricultural community will not readily
increase IFS rates upon an already heay-
lily bufdened and not very prosperous
industry for such purpose unless tho
motor can in some way be called upon
20 contribute.
Il believe the aity Of Hereford intends
trying length Of tar macadam this
year.
MIR. j. q Mackay Of Llanwye, Hamp-
ton Park, Hereford, writes that he founl
the roads OF fierefordshire very free
from dust while motoring recently.
Mr.. Alvin Il. Roe 81 Beeehgrove, Cold
thorn Hill, Wolferhamton, writes:
There is mile Of road here laid with
tarmae. The road WIS previously un.
bearable 20 honseholders and the pass
eugcrs on motor ears and motor omni-
buses. who were very numerous, because
OF tie dust. The dust is now entirely
eliminated. and the road is in every
sense perfect. Noiverlmmton is enthu-
siastic about it
''lhe tarDac roads i'll Nottingham
shire and elsewhere are without doubt
the finest in the Kingdom.
"The MADEIRA road at Brighton. the
finest motor track in the World, was
laid with this material. It has stood the
test OF over q years severe traffic, is
dustlcss. and MS good as when laid
MIR. Il. Purnell Hooley, who evolved
aud patented tarmac is one of our most
brilliant and enterprising county sm.
veyors (Nottingham). He was con-
yinccl by disappointing experiments
with various road dressings that the
remedy for dust did not lie IN the dress
ing, but in the construction and mater.
ial Of Che road
The tossn council Of Windsor has de
s1dc.t Is make conc experiments ihsle-
spouse to public complaints to lessen
dust annoyance. Bucks County Council
put down inhabitants have made an out
cry, ion although taImac kept down the
lust the heat Of the sun caused soft
tar 10 oozc 10 the surface and people
carried il indoors on their boots, with
disastrous results TO carpets. Cyclists
also found il adhered TO their machines.
Daichet Parish Council has resolved TO
place these complaints before the county
surveyor London Mail.