Perth Amboy evening news., 1908-12-26
ROAD QUESTION
OF IMPORTANCE
State Commissioner GiIky-
son Points Out Salient
Points of the Matter.
maintenance DISCUSSED
Special to the EVENING NEWS.


Trenton, Dec. 26:-Colonel Fred
erick Gilkyson, of this city, state
road commissioner, in his annual re-
port to the governor, points out that
the question of road construction
and maintenance, raised by the
changes in modern traffic conditions,
is one of the most important which
the State Department has before it.
Commissioner Gilkyson states that
New Jersey now has a fraction over
1921 miles of roads improved under
the state aid law, the greater mile
age of which was constructed before
the use of the self-propelled vehicle
became extensive. In other words,
he says, most Of the states high
ways were improved for wagon and
carriage traffic. The method of con-
struction used successfully met the
requirements of this traffic, but the
demonstrated that change in the
present method of road building is
essential.
The report goes on to show that
during the past year q number of
experiments have been conducted on
various roads, all of which have
factory results. Two experiments
were made in Mercer county. One
was in the borough Of Princeton,
where a road was constructed by the
incorporation Of heavy oil having an
eighty-two per cent asphaltic base.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
road has been subjected to heavy
teaming traffic it has not shown the
III i.~l,@ c.; hui 10
from ruts and almost entirely dust
less. Another expirement In Hope
WE'LL this county, with a seventy per
cent. asphaltic oil proved quite un-
satisfactory, the oil not having pene-
! trated the surface of the road to any
extent.
Several other experiments made
| in various sections of the state are
outlined and in reviewing these
Commissioner Gilkyson says the re-
suits would indicate that the use of
heavy asphaltum oil as a binding
substance will prove the most desir-
able, economical and practical in
future construction work. Further
more, he says, it is probable that In
the advancement of road building
during the coming year the standard
BDcclHCdJIOD5
to provide for the use of this or
other kindred material.
! One of the most important mat
ters discussed by the report is the
maintenance of the improved roads.
Commissioner Gilkyson first shows
that there should be an improve
ment in the method of repairing
roads and then he says that to main
at th,tc WI
quire diligence and intelligent at
tention on the part of the county
road supervisors. On this point the
report says:
"These supervisors should be fur
nished with facilities to enable them
to inspect every section of road un-
der their care at least once each
week. Stations should be establish
ed at convenient points along each
road where materials could be stored
and repairs made as soon as the road
shows the least sign of deteriora-
ton. Certainly this system of main
tenance would give greater satisfac-
tion to the travelling public, and we
believe that in few years it would
reduce the cost at least SO per cent"
In order to secure better mainte-
nance Commissioners Gilkyson rec
ommends that the road law be so
amended as to provide for two dis
trict supervisors at a cost of $4,000,
to be appointed by the commissioner
and to serve under him. The report
says It is impossible for the state
commissioner or the state supervisor
to keep constantly in touch with this
branch of the work of their depart
ment.
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