Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-08-21
A NEW DUST PREVENTATIVE.

Now the peopss of Americas have
become aroused over the matter of al.
leViating the dust nuisance on at least
few OF the principal roadways of the
city, another method of helping mat
tiers, in addition to that of the oiling
process, has been suggested.
The new process is one of laying
the dust by means of calcium chlor-
ide, chemical salt, of which solu-
ton is made and sprinkled over the
roadways. Provost Hubbard, of the
United States office of public roads, in
an article Written for that purpose,
tells of calcium chloride and the meth
cd OF applying it on the roads. Calcium
chloride is by-product in the manr-
facture of soda and can be obtained at
a moderate price in crystal, solid or
solution. 1t has great capacity for
absorbing water, and it is this prop
erty that makes it so valuable as 3
treatment for dusty roads.
1t is calcium chloride in ordinary
table salt that puts the salt shaker out
of commission in wet weather, so one
may form a pretty good idea of its
capacity for absorbing moisture when
it is known that there is only a very
small amount of the calcium chloride
salt in ordinary table salt. The solid
calcium chloride, which is the cheap
est product to use in road applications.
may be obtained at about SIC per ton
TO. b. cars at point of manufacture
Calcium chloride has only been used
to slight extent in this country for
the purpose of laying dust, but when
properly applied has proved success
! full.
| Local conditions are said to govern
| the amount Of the salt used in the solu-
lions and the number of applications
necessary, but the exercise of a little
judgment makes it possible to obtain
good results with a minimum expense
The solution is usually applied for the
first time On the unprepared road, an
ordinary watering cart being used for
that purpose. An average of four ~
Ions of 10 to 20 per cent. solution Is
employed in two apple. tons givol
during the first week, so that the sur
| face of the road may be thoroughly
saturated. Though the sprinkler
doubles in the center road, if it l.
wide enough for two trips of the
sprinkler, the rains tend to wash the
surplus salt from the middle to the
outer edges, making the application
even.
The calcium chloride solution tends
to retain the moisture for a con
siderable length of time after an or
binary application of water would have
eyaporated, though on hot, dry days
the road does dry out, especially where
it is unshaded. For this reason it is
necessary to sprinkle the road with
water, that being cheaper than apply
ing fresh solutions of an or 10 per.
jcent solution, applied at intervals vary
ing from two to five weeks, according
to conditions, are usually sufficient t.
maintain TIE proper amount of mois-
ture. The road oYerseer can soon de-
termine this
The special advantages claimed fol
calcium chloride are that it is odor-
less and clean. The formation of mud
i'll. wet weather is not lessened by the
calcium chloride, but the mud is n
more Objectionable on account OF tne
presence of the salt. 1t tends to dis
tribute the moisture evenly over the
road, also. It's use prolongs the life OF
the road by retaining the products Of
wear. 1t is not, however, a road build
er but road maintainer Heavy rains
are likely to wash a good deal of il
from the road. 1t is slightly more
expensive than water alone, but the re.
suits should be more satisfactory.