Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-08-04
x -NNgM@,(sss:|sE;!;s.a @,ss: Il; !
S|(Gl1}0TD q 3; 81. |:.'|!|.: !:
S ElQlzAlI.D9s::zzE:5.'
'lS5sS 81 S7sS 8
a Foe.

In view of the fact that there are
no more enthusiastic advocates OF
good roads than the owners OF auto
mobiles, it is somewhat surprising to
Hnd that the high-powered and speedy
machines they drive IRE the greatest
enemies to good country roads that
have ever been discovered. Accord
Ing to the experts OF the department
of roads of the Government. soft rub
ber tires strip the hard surface high
ways of the rock binder that protects
them from the weather.
The department declares, IN fact,
that the modern fast moving motor
car is the greatest menace to mac
adam roads that has ever made its
appearance. =.
On some stretches Of thorough
fares, especially in New England,
where many broad and smooth roads
have been constructed, the retrogres-
sion is not less than forty per cent,
and 1t has been forced upon the dire'c-
tor of the Office of public roads and
upon many highway engineers that II
some plan is not speedily devised for
overcoming the bad effects OF mans
latest and most sensational mode Of
land transportation, the monetary
loss will be stupendous and the good
work of many years will so fo1
naught.
It is not only in America that this
condition prevails. England, France,
Germany, Holland, Belgium and 9TH
er countries Of the Old World where
hard surfaced highways are appre-
cioted have also learned that TIE big
soft rubber tires of the automobile
are doing an almost incredible
amount of harm. France has OIL
cially taken cognizance Of the condt-
ton. and has called an international
congress to meet at Paris on October
II to discuss plans for saving the
roads, while in no way interfering
with the development Of the automo-
bile. for no scientist will condemn one
worthy civilizing influence because 1t
temporarily conflicts with another.
He will merely admit that a new con-
dition has arisen and then set on foot
an investigation with the idea of mas
tering it.
+ To many it may seem beyond be-
lief that a pneumatic rubber tire can
work any injury to a road composed
of bits of crushed flint rock, but 1t be-
comes plain when the theory of such
roads is explained. The macadam
road was first laid down by the emin-
ent French road engineer, Tresau-
get, Of Limoges, who figured that
slowly moving iron tired wagons
would crush dust particles from the
stones of the roads surface; that
those particles would be constantly
sifted between the interstices OF the
large stones; that every passing
wagon would crush them irmer into
all ruts and inequalities; that rain
would aid and the ultimate result
would be smooth surface, water
shedding highway.
The rubber tire, being soft, creates
no rock dust itself as does the iron
tire of a wagon, and the very life OF
these roads demands q constant sup
ply Of that material. 1t is the surface
binder that keeps the road smooth;
cracks filled in; that maintains the
evenness and binds the rubble stones
into one impervious mass.
It is obvious that the automobile,
having come to stay, something will
have to be done to save the roads al
ready macadamized unless future
roadmaking of the kind is to be SIM
ply a waste of money.-Portsmouth
(Va.) Star.