The Detroit times., 1911-10-23
CONCRETE ROADS COST
LITTLE FOR MAINTENANCE
Material Proves Highly Satisfac-
tory, Says Wayne Commits
sion In Report.

The fifth annual report of the
board of county commissioners. com
posed of John s. Haggerty, chair
man. Edward y. Hines and the late
William Murdoch. was handed TO the
supervisors. Monday 1t is com
prehensive statement, covering all
/ the work done by the commissioners
from Oct. /, 1910, to Sept. 80, 1911.
Much OF the Toad-building accom-
plished is artistically illustrated.
One OF the cuts is especially unique.
in that II shows the availability OF
an automobile for pulling a ploy In
the tearing up OF a road. No horses
could be had at the time TO do the
work
In one report. the report is like
voice from the grave. inasmucl
as one of the members of the board
William Murdoch. was killed by his
automobile tipping over on him, a
little more than week ago, about
the time he and his associate COM
missioners had completed the work
supervisors. His picture appears in
the publication with that OF his as
sociates, Comissioners Hines and
Haggerty.
The commissioners show that il
took $3S, 1865 TO run their depart
ment in the year. This sum was
made up as follows; Office expense,
including incidentals not directly
|connected with the clerical work,
S5,6sg.71; general engineering, $11,-
AID; plant and equipment, $21,-
OSS.24. Among the articles added to
the assets Of the commission was an
automobile. for which $I,919.4O was
paid.
Speaking OF their road-building,
the commissioners say that 1.-The de-
clslon 10 adopt concrete as a stand
ard or construction has been amply
justified by the results They add:
woodward and Grand River roads.
built OF concrete, and now in their
third year are wearing remarkably
well; In fact, cur concrete construc-
ton has cost practically nothing for
maintenance
Commenting on the practice OF the
driving public TO stick 10 one part of
the road, thus causing the formation
VI rus, the, report says.
The only differences between n
rut and grave are in the length and
depth. The public is and has been
repeatedly urged by us no. to make a
grave OF a road by con uously driy.
M In one track and helping in the
formation OF ruts. The entire road
way is designed for use. and the saw.
Ing or maintenance charges that can
be effected by a proper use of the en-.
tire width OF the road go a long way
towards giving greater mileage of
good highways than is now possible
The use OF wide tires Is also urged
one or the advantages or the con.
crete road is the fact that il Is but
signify crowned. which tends to dis
tribute the traffic over a wider area.
But there are. and probably will be
for years to come many miles OF
township earth roads which are not
maintained in the condition / (which
II Is possible 70 maintain them, owing
to the pernicious practice of follow.
ing the rut.'
Maintenance is an important factor
in connection with road improve
ments,it Is pointed out. The commits
SiOHNIS lOllOWlnR comment
on the subject:
We belyieve that no community
should invest one dollar for good
roads unless at the same time provi.
sion is made for their care and main.
tenance. Following out this policy we
have maintained a patrol repair crew
I'm the field. all summer This crew.
equipped with roller. street sweeper.
tar kettles and other necessary small
tools. together with a camp outfit
has travelled from one road to an.
other resurfacing where necessary
patching holes and ruts that have de-
veloped under traffic shaping. filling
and rolling the shoulders. cleaning
out ditches, tile drains. manholes and
culverts. cleaning of the accumulated
dirt and refuse carried upon our
roads from the side roads. painting
and repairing guard rails and bridges,
repairing the sides where any wash
ing away has taken place, and main.
tanning our roads In a state OF high
efficiency generally"