Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1908-03-06

built a thousand miles OF macadam high
ways and is planning to build thousands
more. Millions of dollars have already
been expended for the purpose and mil
lions more will be required. The ques-
ton of maintenance of these highways is
but in its infancy. Neither macadam
nor any other kind of highway will last
forever without constant repair and main
tenance, and the rapid deterioration of
their surface from any cause means the
expenditure of more money to maintain
them.
1t is only within the past two or three
years that the remarkable increase in the
number of automobiles, as well as in their
weight and speed, has made noticeable
their effect upon the public highways.
This damage appears to be caused in two
ways. First, by the so-called suction of
the broad rubber tire upon the finely
comminuted material of the wearing sur
face and binder, causing it to be displac-
ed Second, by the direct picking action
of numerous devices now used to rough.
ell the surface of the tire, by the use of
chains and other appliances, termed in
general non-skidding devices.
The report points out that the same evil
exists in other states and in old-world
countries, where motoring is carried on
more extensive than here, and mentions
the measures taken to prevent the injury
to roads. In some localities chained
wheels are barred from the highways.
Numerous experiments have been
made both in this state and elsewhere by
the use of tar, crude oils and other liquids
and their effect has been carefully OBJ
served.
In addition to the continuance of such
experiments and observation of results
the subject is recommended to the Leg
stature for such measures or other and
further relief as it may deem best TO the
end that our system of improved high
ways may be preserved for the uses for
which they were intended.
TAN on AUTOMOBILES.
During our examination of the gener.
al subject of highways and their main.
tenance evidence was presented from al.
most every section of the state indicating
that the use of automobiles upon the i'm.
proved highways was source of wear
and tear upon the surface which, with
their constantly increasing use, would
require special attention to be given to
this branch of the subject. In wet
weather when, for the safety of the
automobiles. he is required to use chains
upon the slippery pavement of the city
or in the mud of the dirt road in the
country, whenever he strikes an inn
proved highway he does not stop to re-
move the chains from the driving wheel,
so that when the improved highway is
wet, and therefore, readily subject to the
attack of the links of the chain, it's use is
injurious to the improved highway ;
while during dry weather there is a pos
sibility that the road will ravel because
while the slow-moving vehicle might
slightly disintegrate the surface the au-
tomobile, moving at high rate of speed,
produces a suction which removes the
dust and finer particles of the wearing
surface and thus leads to a raveling of
the top course. Already experiments
are being made by local officials in vari-
Gus sections of this state, and also in
Massachusetts, Connecticut and New
Jersey, with reference to the determine
ton of what sort of special treatment
may be gwen to through highways so
that they are able to resist this peculiar
sort of wearing away of the top surface
which comes from the suction produced
by the rapidly moving machine.
1t is therefore clear to your committee
that at this session of the Legislature
appropriate legislation should be had
which will regulate the use of chains
upon improved highways, and also, mas
much as there must be special treatment
or special construction upon the through
highways, it would seem only fair that a
reasonable tax should be levied to pro-
vide a fund from which this extra bur
den may be discharged. This legislation
should be reasonable as to the amount of
the tax, it should be definitely provided
that it is to be spent for repair to the end
that the automobile may bear its just
proportion of the burden for any in
creased wear upon the highway, and, on
the other hand, that the payers of the
tax may have guarantee that the
money so paid is to be expended for the
remedying of the condition which they
create.
In considering this question your COM
mittee is of the impression that, mas
much as the legislation with reference
to motor vehicles is now to be found in a
separate law, the proper place for these
suggested changes is by amendment to
the motor-vehicle law. Logically, these
provisions of statue should be found in
that law rather than in the highway code.