The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-10-19
ROAD EXPERT TELLS OF PROGRESS
IN BETTERMENT OF PUBLIC HIGHWAYS

have proved failures and how they
can most economically and efficiently
improve the parkways under their
charge. Mr. Rablin will also explain
the system Of creating the metropol-
itan district around Boston, which has
parks and boulevards and which would
not have been possible otherwise. In
these days of rapid travel the crea-
ton of parks and parkways is most
important subject, and it is frequent
ly necessary by reason of the fast
building up of centers of population TO
purchase lands at some distance from
the cities for park purposes. Usually
the expense of such a plan is prohibi-
tive, and in many cases it will be
necessary to do as Boston has done,
create metropolitan park district so
that the expense of such Improvements
can be borne, not only by the city, but
also by the territory contingent there
to which is also benefited and I'M
proved by such parks and parkways
Mr. Rablin s reputation as, an expert
on this subject is so we'll known that
there is no doubt that the park COM
missioners all over the country will
avail themselves of the opportunity of
getting at first hand information re-
garding this important subject.
''It has frequently been said that
the money which has been expended
outside of the cities and villages on
the improvement of the so,called state
roads or main trunk lines, is wasted
because the roads are not properly
maintained after being built In many
instances the criticisms are we'll found
ed. and the millions of dollars ex-
pended on road construction have been
as good as squandered, because the
roads have been allowed to deteriorate
and to wear out without being prop.
erly cared for.
"The system adopted in France is
known as the patrol system, and the
same method has been adopted in New
York state. where over $500 miles of
macadam roads have been constructed
and about 500 patrolmen are at work
repairing all the minor defects in the
highways. Each patrolman covers
about FIVE miles of territory He is
provided with horse and cart filed
with the various sizes of stone and
ments TO repair all minor defects. The
work has been laid out and directed
under the personal supervision of the
Hon. s. Percy Hooker. state highway
commissioner from New York state,
who will present at the st. Louis con.
vention a paper on Continuous and
Systematic Road Maintenance.
Economy Is Shown.
"Although this system has been in
operation scarcely year, its economy
has already been demonstrated, as in
the contract system Of repairs an al
lownnce Of 90 per cent at least must
be made for the contractor s profit, 10
per cent for supervision and 10 per
cent for contractors office, clerical
aud supervision expense. Thus at first
hand at least 40 per cent is saved in
the course of making these repairs, and
instead of having in many cases in
experienced contractors to do the work,
it is in charge of patrolmen who are
retained in their positions year after
year and become expert and proficient
not only in the making of macadam
road repairs, but in the application of
surface compounds, which alleviate
dust. and in resurfacing roads with bi-
luminous binders No state highway
commissioner can afford to take the re-
sponsibility of expending vast sums of
money on the trunk lines of his state
without being conversant and familiar
with the patrol system, and by ques-
tioning Mr.. Hooker after his address
at st. Louis be can apply to his own
state the methods which have been SO
successfully adopted IN the state of
New York y
are assured for st. Louis in generous
numbers. and the practical results
therefrom will contribute much to the
booming good roads cause, which is
one of the livest of issues in many
communities u