The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-11-26
JERSEY HAS
SOLVED THE GOOD
ROADS PROBLEM
Commissioner Gilkyson Declares
Bituminous Highways Built
Here Are Best in World.

fGptCLdl 10 the -NSNaIh Sldf.I
TRENTON, Nov. Estate Road
Commissioner Frederick Gilkyson has
declared that in view of the great
success of the experiments conducted
In road work in New Jersey, this State
will build no more macadam roads. In
the future all highways will be con-
structed Of asphalt binder stone or
other mixtures OF this sort, which has
been demonstrated to be greatly SUI
perior to the old-fashioned macadam
surfaces.
Since he has been the State road
| commissioner Mr.. Gilxyson has practi-
cally revoiutionized road construction
methods in this State. The attention
of road builders throughout the coun-
try mas been attracted by the expert
ments which Commissioners Gilkyson
has conducted and which has demon
strated that pavements superior to or
binary asphalt can be laid In cities and
suburban districts at from $l15 to H.50
a square yard, where they now pay
from $3.50 to $3.50 a square yard. These
results have been brought about by
Colonel Gilkyson in an effort to provide
for New Jersey a road building method
that will meet all the requirements of
automobile travel, which the old-fash-
toned macadam a will not do, and
keep New Jersey where h has been
for years-at h head of all other
States-in the matter of good roads.
The enormous growth of automobiles
upon the macadam roads Of the State
brought to the attention of the road
department the great necessity Of pro-
viding a new road surface that would
be at once dustless, water proof and
hard enough to stand h destructive
effect of rapidly driven automobiles
and yet resilient enough to insure COM
fort in riding. This was the problem
that faced Colonel Gilkyson when he
went into office.
Today New Jersey has eighty-five
miles OF bituminous roads. with speci-
fcations drawn for thirteen more. This
is more than can be found in n other
State or in any foreign country. The
| condition Of the roads which were
completed more than q year and
! which have gone through the frosts of
the winter and the neat of the summer
with the fast speeding travel, show that
this new method OF road construction
has come to stay. Mr.. GillSyson says
that from present indications it will
be several years before these roads need
Irepairing. The commissioners has
pushed this campaign SO that the I'M
| portant paving companies. namely. the
Barber Asphalt Paving Company, the
Warren Brothers' Bitulithic Company,
the Filbert Paving and Construction
| Company and the Stanley interests, in
order to meet the situation, have all
| put on the market O new road-making
material.
Colonel Gilkyson has arranged a con-
ference at Washington with Provost
Hubbard, chemist in the Office of the
Department of Public Roads of the
! United States Government. and an ex-
| pert on asphafts, the purpose of which
| will be to endeavor to devise a road
building specification that will permit
the building of b~iturninous roads, allow
competitive bidding and not infringe
the patented road preparations of the
companies referred to.
Regarding the new road construction
method, Colonel Gilkyson says that 1t
has been demonstrated beyond question
hat bituminous roads and their repair
are far superior to the old-time
methods. In addition to producing a
road that is practically justices. water
proof land noiseiess, this method IN
sures several years additional life to
the highway. The commissioner also
| shows that pavements superior to or
| binary asphalt, particularly for subur-
| ban districts, can be laid for $l.l5 to
$50 a square yard, including the con-
crete base of four inches ! m depth.
| These figures are based on what the
work has already cost the State.
Commissioner GilkSSan has received
a letter from L. WI rage, director OF
public roads for the uRited States,
who came to New JAasey recently to
study its road-niaki: methods, IN
which he says that TBS has tried
more different mateFA any State
in the Union, ana Sc .y comph-
mented Mr.. Gilkyso4 49, ne work ne
is doing along these%ines.