The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-30


 ruts which may appear, but to do no re- surfacing until the stones have worn down at least to the lower stratum of the macadam. Too often the resurfaeing is delayed longer than economical con- alterations will justify.
 By the time the upper course has been worn through the road is usually more or less out of shape. As before stated, most of the wear is near the middle of the road. The sides tend to build up as the center wears down. When the road is in this condition it should be resur- faced with the best stone which is avail able. It should not be necessary to put on more than three inches in the center. and the stone at the sides may be spread as thinly as is possible. Usually the road surface is spiked up" with the picks are several so-called ''scarifiers'' on the market, which are sometimes used, but they are seldom needed on county roads. Sometimes no "spiking'' Is needed if three inches or more of stone is put on, since this depth will usually give a sufficient body to hold together
 'Such resurfacings are usually rela- lively inexpensive There is no trouble with the foundation, and the stones settle quickly into place good as new. Someone has stated that such work should DC done in Massachusetts at not exceeding 10 cents per square yard for each inch in depth of new surfacing material rolled in place. This rough estimate is usually liberal.
 Costs About $1oo Per Mile.
 "In Massachusetts, where the highway commission not only directs the original construction of the roads, but their main- tenance as well, it is necessary to keep account of the repair costs accurately, since the counties and municipalities, re- spectively, are assessed annually for cer- tain proportions of the expenses. The state roads there, at least 95 per cent of which are of the macadam type, have av- eraged for ordinary maintenance, approx imately $100 per mile per year. These roads, almost all of which are 15 feet wide in the macadamized portion, have been in service for from one to 13 years. A few sections now require resurfacing, and
 
 a relatively small part of the resurfacing cost is included in the annual cost per mile above stated, but it is believed that | an expenditure of not exceeding $200 per 1 mile per year should be the maximum ] amount necessary to provide for both or dinary and extraordinary repairs. Motor Vehicles Roads Worst Foe. ha fI,a of | the macadam road is, perhaps, it's most ardent advocate--the motor vehicle. The steel wheels of the ordinary vehicle | grind off sufficient powder from the | stones to serve as a binder, replacing l the binding material blown away by winds or washed off by rains. It is | usually possible when the binder be- | comes deficient and the stones in the upper course begin to appear and the surface grows rough, to spread little coarse sand in the center of the ma cadam road. The sand is soon spread | by traffic over the greater portion If | the width of the macadam. It relieves | the roughness and keeps the stones from raveling. This practice has been 1 followed in many sections for years. l But the swiftly moving motor car of | the present day has introduced a new problem into road maintenance. The | large rubber tires on wheels of small diameter appear to exert suction on 1 the binder of the road The vacuum 1 caused by the vehicle moving rapidly 1 over the road lifts the dust into the air in clouds, and it is blown away into | the fields
 | "Various substances are being ex- | perimented with for application to road 1 surfaces to lessen or obviate this evil l Coal tar and oils with an asphaltic basc seem to give the best results. In France | tar has been used for several years, it is said, most satisfactorily. It may be that by some such application not only will the roads be saved from de- mutation by motor vehicles, but the ordinary surface repair costs will be | lessened as well.
 Rarely Becomes Muddy. "A properly built macadam road i l | the country rarely becomes muddy ex- | cept from mud tracked upon 1t from | side roads built of natural soil. The country road official is spared this an- noyance and the expense of removing | the mud. That they are often dusty