The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1908-01-04
TAR ON ROADS.

AS direct result of successful ex-
periments with oil for roads in Cali
fornia-and in Oran, Africa, and sew
eral towns of Algiers where aloe and
massot oil were used-road builders
took up the question of employing
tar, either alone or in connection with
oil for road surfacing. In France a
mixture of tar and oil was tried in
1900, and by 1901 such good effects
were obtained with various tar mix
lures, that many miles of roads were
surfaced with them. The French en-
gineers pursued the subject with in
telligent perseverance, and they Sc
cured some ideal roads for travelling.
The tar is applied hot at 2Io degrees,
and only in dry weather. After the
tar is applied, a sprinkling of sand is
made over the surface to harden the
MIXTURE and to prevent slipping Of
h5fses and vehicles. By the addition
of heavy oils, the tar is hardened more
quickly, and the road thrown open to
general traffic. All dust and mud
are eliminated by the tarring process,
and the roadbed itself is kept from in
jury by heavy traffic. The water
proof character of the tar surface keeps
the water from entering the roadbed,
and thus eliminates one of the most
destructive agencies of highways.
In England tar is also used quite
extensively for the maintenance of
the roads, and in this country it Is
also well. recognized practice. One
of the first applications of tar to the
surface was made at Jackson, Tenn.
The surface lasted about seven or
eight months. In Montclair, N. j.,
a mixture of tar and screenings was
tried in 1904 on steep grade, and
for year practically no wear or tear
was noticeable on the road. Since
thena number of other roads in that
town have been similarly treated at
cost of about seventeen cents per
square foot, including the cracked
stone and screenings. The tarring
itself cost only about FIVE to six cents
per square foot. In several other
NewJersey towns and on Long Island,
roads are now being treated with tar
red surface for eliminating dust and
mud and for the protection of the road
itself.
The difference between the method
of tarring the surface of roads In
France and this country is in the use
of sand or screenings. In France
they merely sprinkle sand on the tar
after it has cooled day or two, but
in this country cracked stones or
screenings are either mixed with the
tar or sprinkled upon the surface,
with the purpose of incorporating
them as much as possible with the
tar. The French roads are excellent
and form a dry, dustless surface, but
they do not last as the American roads
of equal excellence. The tar and
screenings, when properly mixed to-
geii1er, form sort of cushion, which
greatly reduces abrasion.
The use of tar in territories where
there are ample rainfalls is far supe-
rior to oil, for the latter then forms
an emulsion with the water, which
does great damage to vehicles and
clothes. Itmakes the surface mushy,
and resprinkling is necessary at inter
walls. But in dry, hot, arid regions
the oil Is superior to tar, and accom-.
plishes the object of laying the dust
and forming smooth compact sur
face better. 1t is consequently a
question of climate and Topographic
cal conditions which must determine
the use of materials and methods In
any part of the country.-.SaSnti1fc
.Anse,ican.