The Washington times., 1909-01-19
Long Evolution

'Inasmuch as macadam and asphalt,
by long evolution, have established
themselves in many countries as the
premier types OF roads, 7 have, after
long and careful consideration, come TO
the conclusion that the best. if not the
only. solution OF our problem is
combination of Inc two in the form of
an asphalt strip of suitable width, run
ming through, and usually IN the middle
! OF, the macadam.
/ Horses can be driven on the macad-
am as now. IF desired. Automobiles,
when the road is clear, viii have an
( ideal surface in the middle, equal 20 a
billiard table, with no ruts or Jumps
I to look out for When automobiles
meet, they will slow down and turn
out So as 20 run upon the macadam
only ON one side and for a few feet;
and when rain first falls on the as
/ phaIt. making It slippery, they can run
/ with one side on the pavement and
/ one side on the macadam, 20 avoid
/ skiddiug When on the strip Of pd-e
/ ment iu the middle they VIII cause
neither dust nor wear.
/ FINALLY. and If no other advantage
/ were 10 be gained, farmers can haul
on the asphalt more than JouDle the
/ load that they can haul on macadam.
1 This consideration alone should decide
I the matter in favor OF the asphalt
strip"
Mr.. Barber spoke OF the damage caus-
/ ed 90 the smooth surface OF roads by
T automobiles and Of the increasing seTi-
I BUSINESS Of this damage.
cit IS well known he said, that
/ automobiles, even al moderate Speed
/ tear I'D maCadam and grind its lFag-
. meuts into dust. thus destroying the
/ road and causing nuisance 10 at VINO
use IT, and TO occupants or houses on
ar. acid D. -fHH "a |HH
that automobiles do not destroy as
. Dhalt pavement nor cause any aust
I from il. no matter how great the speed
s.srhers are i'm the United States 2g5,-
90 miles Of railroads. ana Z-45l-5i0 miles
OF public roads. only about s per cenl
of the latter being Improved. For every
mile OF railroad there are about nine
miles OF dirt and one mile of good stone
road.
Farmers Share.
aThe total expenditures OF the Uuitec
States Tor the ten years ended in lsO
amounted TO s6908,742,582 OF this vas
amount only about thTee-tOUrths OF
per cent. namely s4IO0087, was directly
devoted 10 the interest OF agriculture
and yet the prosperity OF the wuol'
country depends primarily upon the
D condition OF tho agricultural interests.
. Now, lf Uncle Sam WOULD 8pprJp1
ate, say SZGG04QD yearly for ten year
for the building of good roads, an,
would appOrtiOn this among the STATE
and Territories according TO population
Ion condition that The States accepting
should provide three times as much
, the benefit 90 the whole people of IN
United States would be immediate an
OF enormous value. The States woul
< eagerly accept their allotment an
e could provide the tLTee-TouTthS OF III
money required by contributing one
fourth themselves, and appOTti0uiHE IN
- . two-fouTtHs thus obtained among an
? counties. with the provision that Jl
u counties supply the remaining two
f0urths Then each county could j..
. self contribute One-iOuTth and appOrtio
o the three-fOuTtus among the township.
r. on condition that the townships accept
Z ing tie appOTtlOHment provide The re
" mFiuiuE Oue-fourth-"
y, Taking the average cost or making
= I siEtcen-foOt maCadam roadway as 500.
, per mile Mr.. Barber estimated the tote
cost OF q EiEteeu-i0Ot road with SIX
foot strip Of asphalt ia the middle q
about $1,000 mile. au Increase or
per cent