The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-02-01
AUTOS BAD FOR ROADS
New York State Expert Says Roads
Must Be Stronger.

MUST DC stronger.
Albany Jan. 3l.-A note of warn
ing against the damage which is be-
ing done to the improved highways
of the state by automobiles is sound
ed by Frederick Skene, ex-State En-
gineer and Surveyor, in his annual re-
port to the Legislature. Mr.. Skene,
who was succeeded on Jan. / by
State Engineer Frank Williams, sug-
gested that the traffic which pro
duces this disastrous result must be
restricted, or new methods. however
expensive, must be used in construc-
ton to meet the conditions which con
front us.
Does any sane man who has fol.
lowed this question: Mr. Skene asks,
believe for moment that the first
alternative will be realized? 1t fol
lows. then, that the sooner the second
alternative is adopted the better for
all concerned.
Fines and license fees to any rea-
sonable extent do not reach the root
of the difficulty, nor will they meet
more than q 1.-THE of the expense in.
volved"
On the subject Of highway improve
ment Mr.. Skene says:
The work of highway improve
ment has greatly increased in the
last year The season was exception
ally good for road-building, resulting
In the completion of 500 miles OF
highway during the calendar year
and making a total Of l,7S7 miles
built to date There are now under
contract $50 miles and ,03S miles
estimated TO cost Sl0,624910, are
awaiting contract
within the last six years the
State has built 4 thousand miles OF
macadam highways and is planning
TO build thousands more. Millions OF
dollars have already been expended
for the purpose and millions more
viii be required. The question OF
maintenance of these highways is
but in rs infancy. Neither macadam
nor any other kind OF highway will
last forever without constant repair
and maintenance, and the rapid de
terioration OF their surface from any
cause means the expenditure OF more
money to maintain them.
1T is only within the last two OF
three years that the remarkable in
crease 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:
Firstly the so-called suction OF
he no 81 g. !.
moving wheel upon the finely com
minuted material Of the wearing sur
face and binder, causing it to be dis.
placed and thrown out TO the rear
thus exposing the jagged corners OF
he top course Of macadam, which
are IN their turn reduced to frag
ments and removed from place by
the same agency
Secondly the direct picking ac.
ton of numerous devices now used to
roughen the surface OF the tire and
thus obtain a stronger hold upon the
smooth surface of the finished road
by the use of chains and other appli-
ances. termed IN general non-skidding
devices and intended to prevent side
slip of the wheels especially in wet
weather or at high speed, or at turns
in the road
1T is to be observed that speed is
an essential element in causing the
injury In both the cases named. The
higher the speed of the machine the
greater is the injury inflicted. The
law now permits no greater speed
than twenty miles per hour upon the
open highways of the State, yet it is
a matter OF common knowledge that
this law is more honOred in the
breach than in the observance