Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1910-04-05
BOTH GOOD AND CHEAP
Dallas Might Well Investigate New
Pavement.

The new combination asphalt-mac-
adam pavement, because of it's dura-
pliity and cheapness, is attracting at
tehtlon everywhere. 1t Is claimed for
this new combination that it can be
lald at about one-half the cost of as
phalt pavement, while its appearance
Is fully equal to, and its wearing quail
ltles actually better than, the smooth
asphalt. The Observer believes it
would pay the officials of Dallas to
fully investigate this new pavement
before proceeding further with the
straight macadam work on the streets
OF the city. Spokane officials have Just
concluded such an investigation and
the result is shown in the following
press dispatch from that city:
Good Pavement at Small Cost.
Officials of Spokane recently re-
turned from Los Angeles and Pasade-
ma where the asphalt macadam pave
ment so extensively laid in California
cities was Investigated, have submit
ted report in which they declare that
this character of pavement is the best
possible solution for medium priced,
hard-surfaced pavement on residence
streets. One of the Spokane officials in
discussing the trip and the result of
the committees investigation, has the
following to say:
After studying the matter closely
dam is the best solution of the med
ium-priced pavement for residence
and other streets where the traffic is
not extensive, and that it can be laid
in the Pacific Northwest at $1.25 a
square yard.
Must Excavate Subgrade.
'In laying this pavement the first
step is to eXcavate the subgrade and
roll it until it is smooth and hard.
Then six inches of crushed rock small
enough to pass through a three-inch
screen are laid and rolled until thor
oughly packed down.
Asphalt oil is then applied. This is a
heavy thick oil, containing about S5
per cent pure asphalt, and is heated
to about 200 degrees before being put
on. About three quarts are used to
each square foot of surface, and then
a layer of crushed rock that will pass
through a 0ne-ineh screen is put on
and rolled into the voids between the
larger stones. More oil is then applied,
and a top dressing of rock screened
about the size of wheat kernels is
rolled.
Looks Like Asphalt Streets.
'The finished road has the appear
ance of an asphalt street, the only
noticeable difference being that there
is a grittiness to the surface which
prevents it from being slippery. In
Pasadena teams travel up and down
an per cent grade with no difficulty
whatever, the horses being apparently
sure of their footing.
I'm Los Angeles / saw a four-mule
team hauling several granite steps for
new building which fronted on a
street paved in this manner. The load
must have weighed at least 10000
pounds, and ii was hauled past the
building, backed in and unloaded, and
after the team left 1 could not find a
mark on the pavement made by either
the wagon wheels or the horses shoes.
This was severe test, but it satisfied
me of the value of this pavement"
May Use Asphalt Macadam.
1t is understood that at least one of
the large close-in residence additions
in Portland, which is now undergoing
extensive street improvements, will be
paved with this asphalt-macadam. A
Los Angeles firm is said to have sub
mitted a proposition to pave the streets
in this addition, which contains about
$50 acres, at the rate of $1.10 per
square yard.