New-York tribune., 1909-05-16
TO TEST AUTO WEAR
SEEK EFFECT ON ROADS.
Federal Bureau TO Conduct It's
Trials Here This Week.

The once Of public roads Of the United States
Department of Agriculture is 70 conduct some thor
ough and important tests the effects Of auto
mobile and horse traffic on macadam roads. The
tests are to be held on Thursday and the place is
to be made known early this week Brake tests will
also be made of classes Of traffic, for the pur
pose Of determining distance required to stop
each of the two types vehicles at different rates
Of speed under emergency conditions. The Arneri-
can Automobile Association is supplying the ofice
of public roads with all necessary facilities for car
rying out these tests, and a suitable road will be
selected within the limits Of greater New York.
At meeting OF the executive committee OF the
association held on May which was attended by
L, W Page, director OF the Office of public roads
all the details necessary TO the tests were explained
by Mr.. Page and the executive committee referred
the matter TO George c. Diehl, chairman Of the
good roads board, with instructions TO arrange al
the necessary details
officers Of the United States army are much in
erested in these tests and it has been arranged 10
have several as members of the committee on tests
Brigadier General James B. Aeshire, quarter
master general l. s. A. will probably be on
hand as will also Major D s Stanley, of the quar-
termasters department Z. s. A, and Major Spencer
Cosby. I. S. A, will also be member of the COM
rnittee on tests and viii have charge Of the brake
tests
BESIDES the government CIntldlSr al ll4o St1NN
highway commissions in the country have been
asked by the Office of public roads to send repre-
sentatves. and all who able 70 serve on the
committee on tests viii be invited to do Sc
Mr.. Page explained to the executive committee
Of the AUtomobiIs Association the great need Of
such tests 10 aid. not only highway engineers IN
meeting conditions brought about by motor trafhc,
but also legislators in enacting proper laws relating
10 this class Of traffic
on two occasions Mr.. Page has had opportunities
70 s+1ldI his departure Tor
Paris. as chairman OF the American delegation to
the International Roads Congress. he received per
mission from the War Department to police
measured stretch Of the conduit road, in the Dis
trirt Of Columbia. snd send various types Of
automobiles over It at varying rates Of speed while
expert photographers caught instantaneous pictures
of the wheels.
The Photographs secured on that occasion excited
great interest among the delegates TO the con
gress and Mr. Page was congra tulated on securing
what many conceded 70 be explanation OF the
automobiles destructive effects. Many had con
tended that the car bodies had created partial
vacuum as they passed and that suction had lifted
the road surface others that the soft rubber tires
exerted a suction, but Nr. Page had said that the
shearing action Of the rear or driving wheels tore
up the road and the rush Of air after the speeding
car disseminated the dust thus raised.
The photographs. some Of which were taken with
an exposure Of only one two-thoUsandth Of a sec
ond. bore out his contention.
Ten days ago another series of tests was con
Quoted cars belnE sent over lae same SNiFbAl4 "a
tho conduit road-a common macadam surface
and over the oil-dressed macadam sPeedway- In
the first instance great clouds of dust were created
but when the cars passed over tAe speedway al
even greater rates OF speed there was no apQrecia
bic effect
Il was through these tests that the attention of
the American Au-orlobils Association was directed
10 tie efforts he.nE made by The government 10
solve one OF the most troublesome problems ever
placed before highway engineers. and decision
~ pa =
aid the association vas able TO command he was
urged 10 the executive committee and 70 make
q selection OF a suitable course
George G. riehi. of Buffalo chairman n the
roo6 roads committee. Nos empowered % appoint
a committee - make arrangements for a series
~ such tests With Mr. Dehl. President Lewis X
eneara ~ Boston John II. Bruce and Secretary
= H Elliott MI Page vent for a spin over
many OF the Long Island roads in search q suit
able course.
ro=d conditions have changed within the past
decade for the automobile has created a new and
an unlocked for problem and has brought this iFoo
lem IN for solution with such haste that rcao con
s.r,,c,ior mas In no wise kept abreast Of modern
+-.4s- conditions or demands. Roads which IN
ro-r7e- Years easily withstood the wear 81 horse
vehicles are now quickly stripped OF their me sur
face binding material and made 20 disintegrate
T-n6er the constant passing Of wagons equipped
with iron-tired wheels the roads not only Iveo'
b,,t iroproved. the wheels crushing percentage
~ the rock and the particles sitting their way
frro the iuterrtices and forming cenented'
bonded irnpervious, water-shedding shell
zr-ber IN its highest state OF perfection the rock
from, which such road is made must be so suited
10 the character and the volume Of the trafhc
which passes over II that ths amount o. dust
formed by passing wagons VIII De only suhlc'sh.
n replace that which Is taken away b. "ino ana
rain.
Automobiles have done none OF these helpful
+birrs Proceeding ss they frequently do at high
rates Of speed they have fted up this dust binder
end sent it svvirlng away while their soft, rubber
t,res have crushed TO rock 70 supply that which
they have stripped from the highways