The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-07-07
Gnnn Huans
700 So~eeo~S
Stronger Highways Needed.


Stronger Highways Needed.
A note of warning against the dam
age which is being done to the inn
proved highways of the State by au-
tomobiles is sounded by Frederick
Skene, ex-State Engineer and Sur
veyor, in his annual report to the
New York Legislature. Mr.. Skene'
who was succeeded by State Engineer
Frank Williams, suggests that the
traffic which produces this disastrous
result must be restricted, or new
methods, however expensive, must be
used in construction to meet the con-
ditions which confront us.
Does any sane man who has fol-
lowed this question" Mr.. Skene asks,
"believe for a moment that the first
alternative will be realized? 1t fol
lows, then, that the sooner the second
alternative is adopted the better Tor
all concerned.
Fines and license fees to any
reasonable extent do not reach the
root of the difficulty, nor will they
meet more than a 1.-THE OF the ex-
penses involved"
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 bodybuilding, resulting
in the completion of 500 miles OF
highway during the calendar year.
and making a total of 1887 miles
built to date. There are now under
contract $40 miles, and 1898 miles,
estimated to cost s~1O,624,91O, are
awaiting contract.
within the last six years the state
has built a thousand miles OF mac
adam highways and is planning 10
build thousands more. Millions CT
dollars have already been expended
for the purpose and millions more
will be required. The question OF
maintenance of these highways is but
in it's infancy. Neither macadam nor
any other kind of highway will last
forever without constant repair n
maintenance, and the rapid d%eteriora'
ton of their surface from any cause
means the expenditure of
money to maintain them.
1T is only within the last two or
three 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 ap-
pear to be caused in two ways:
"First-By the so-called suction or
the broad rubber tire Of a swiftly
moving wheel upon the finely COM
minuted material of the wearing sur
face and binder, causing 1t to be dis
placed and thrown out to the rear,
thus exposing the jagged or
the top course of macadam, which
are in their turn reduced to frag-
ments and removed from place by the
same agency.
"Second-By the direct picking &C.
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 ap.
pliances, termed in general non-skld.
ding devices and intended to prevent
side-slip of the wheels, especially N
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 d
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 1t Is
q matter of common knowledge that
this law is more honored In the
breach than in the observance -
New York Times.