Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-02-28
Automobiles the Cause Of
New Road Problems.
Interesting Tall. by State High
way Commlss Toner Sargent.
Order from the Office Of Tie
AdIutant General.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Next Meeting Of Governor and Council
Wednesday, March 80, at 10 A. M.


In an interview on the subject al
road construction Saturday Sta"
Highway Commissioner Sargent Spol,c
interestingly as follows:
In the State that have gone int"
State road building most extentivc-
lv it has been observed that since tn
sue Of the automobile has become
quite general that macadam and grav-
81 roads which formerly would last
for years under horse drawn traffic.
deteriorate fast under automobile
traffic. The dust raised from the sur
faces of these roads by swiftly passing
machines is also very objectionable
and in many cases has proved a posi-
tive injury to abutting property. In
consequence road engineers and chem
lists employed by commercial concerns
have been studying methods for pre-
venting the rapid wear of these roads
and for suppressing the dust.
Tar and asphalt are the materials
which have been most generally en-
ployed either in construction of new
rouds as a binder or as surface treat
ment for old roads to keep the dust
down. Where new macadam has been
built with IL bituminous binder or old
been observed that the wearing of the
road has practically stopped and that
the roads have been far more salts
factory to all classes, of users. RealiZ-
ing that the automobile has come to
stav and that the State of Maine will
soon be called upon to meet the con-
sequent road problems we have. dur
ing the past year, built bituminous
macadam roads in Ballowell. Lewis
ton. Madison, Portland. Richmond and
Westbrook AS this is a new kind of
a road in this State, we will briefly
describe the form of construction we
have followed.
1.-THE roadbed is prepared as in the
construction of a regular canadian or
gravel road. On the sections built
during the past year We have then
spread even inches of No. l stone
that is, crushed stone varying in size
from one and a quarter inches to two
and half inches, which after thor
ough rolling with steam roller COM
pacts to about five inches. Over this
is spread three inch layer Of No.
stone which has been thoroughly mix
cd and coated with bituminous bin
der After spreading. this is allowed
to stand from a few hours to a day, de-
pending upon the temperature OF the
air after which it is rolled down to
about two inches. 1t is then allowed
to sit until sufficiently hard after
which the surface is painted with hot
refined coal gas tar or hot asphalt and
Immediately covered with from one
quarter to one half inch of dry stone
screenings from which all dust has
been removed. A light rolling is then
given to force the screenings into the
surface voids of the No. 2 course and
into the surface coat of bituminous
material. This completely seals the
surface of the road making it imper-
vious to moisture and also makes
gritty surface which affords a good
foot-hold for horses.
The following points must be OBJ
served In carrying out this work. The
stone must be clean and dry: tar or
asphalt will not adhere to dirty. dusty
or damp stone. A uniform grade or
stone and bituminOus materials should
be used. Thorough mixing and careful
spreading and rolling must be insist
ed upon The road must not be open
ed for traffic until the bituninous
binder has completely set.
The advantages claimed for this
form of construction arc that it is
water proof and consequently san-
tary; noiseless. dustless and that the
wear is almost impcrccptiblc. making
the maintenance expense very light.
The road is resilient. making it very
easy for horses to work upon. Auto
mobile traffic does not injure it but
rather benefits it. The statements
made in this paragraph are not con-
Il in, Mnif inc
They are the conclusions of officials
who have been building and observing
these roads for four or five years.
Your commissioner has made more
or less of an investigation of this
style Of construction during the year
aud all of the above statements seem
to be warranted. The cost OF this con-
struction generally speaking is about
r 50 per cent. more than for ordinary
ma, adam. TIL" method described above
is called the mixing method Similar
results arc ac, emphasized by what is
called the 'Crouting method or 'pcne-
tration mcthUsl.' Ry this method the
bituminous. material instead of being
mixed with the No. > course is Spreah
upon it after it s partially rolled and
allowed To penetrate The road is
finished rs in the mixing method. 1t
= has seemed to your commissioner that
such uniform results could not be OBJ
stained by this method as bv the mix
ing method and 70 work of this kind
has been undertaken.
We have repeated that we have
tried tn profit by experimental work
conductd in other States where APP
preparations for this kind of work are
available. The same line has been
followed in the case of bituminous
macadam. Roads in Massachusetts
and Rhode Island have been examined
several times and the construction
outlined above is that which appeared
to be giving the best satisfaction. This
style of road has been built in Rhode
Island during the past four years I'M
der the direction of A. H. Blanchard,
NJ. A. NJ. c. E., deputy state engineer,
and we have followed his specification
and method of work and used the same
materials which his laboratory tests
and experience have indicated to be