Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-12-03

! EXHIBIT OF ROAD SURFACES AT 1NTERNA-
TIoNAL HIGHWAY CONGRESS.
wardness of our own country In almost
every phase Of road construction and
maintenance
"Wldely differing conditions render
comparisons difficult, yet n study Of
the roads OF these countries, the high
state OF intensive agriculture noted
everywhere. with the resultant beauty
Of the surrounding landscape, proves
most interesting and instructive. They
furnish a lesson which America can
not afford TO ignore
THE law OF gravitatiOn IS universal.
The question OF gradient applies alike
to every road In every country The
traffic to be handled, differing as f.
does In quantity and character, Dc
mands way over which It can be
moved. TO do this ut a minimum Of
cost, considering both the surface OF
the road and the means Of conveyance.
Is the problem The road must be dif.
ferently adapted 10 meet varying con-
ditions. In other words. the traffic
must be suited TO the road or the road
to the traffic.
Experience and observation are the
best teachers. In the opinion of those
whose views are herein expressed the
attention Of the American public
should be directed primarily 10 three
things In road construction. namely.
"Flrst.-The selection OF the route should
be made with reference TO gradient. alien.
ment, character of soil, drainage and gCu-
eral adaptabilty FOR road purposes.
"Second-In construction the character
OF the traffic TO be borne. the accessible
ity and cost OF material should Dc care.
fully studied The road best suited Tor
horses differs I'm character from that best
adapted to motor vehicles and vIprnynr
possible different ways should be proyiI-
ed for different kinds OF traffic on the
same route. In America. whore for yslr4
to come earth roads viii form "a laree
proportion Of our highways much future
expense may be saved by planning these
ways so that when a portion OF tho rsld
Is metaled an earth road may s.ll ~
had at one side. thus relieving the metal
surface Of considerable traffic during Ger
tain seasons Of the year
"Third.-Too much stress cannot De Iald
on the importance OF the proper main
tenance Of our highways No road ls ever
finished. Traffic begins to pound and
wear away a road before construction ia
completed. Maintenance must begin on
the very day the road IS opened for traf-
fc and continue without ceaslng through
out the years TO come.
Two Of the best specimens Of roads
seen were in England. In the vicinity
Of nottingham we passed for more
than hundred miles over roads built
by II. Purnell Hooley which were as
nearly perfect as It seems possible 10
make them. In the cnvirons OF Lon.
don we rode for an equal distance
over roads which were well built. the
surface Of which had been treated uu-
der the direction OF Sir Herbert Prcad
All Of these roads carried heavy trar.
fic, including automobiles and traction
engines, yet they were perfectly
smooth ard free from dust They cv.
emplincd IN q startling degree the Of.
feet Of careful construction and con.
slant maintenance. where q stitch in
time saves nine as opposed TO the
lalsscz falre Of some OF the leading
thorOugbforcs Of our own country as
we'll as around the French capital.
THE FIRST international road con-
gross was productive Of great good:
tho second international congress.
which VIII bee held In Brussels two
years hence promises greater things"