The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-08-10
OIL ON The STREETS.

Opinions differ as to the use OF oil
on streets and roads, but the pre-
ponderance of evidence is favorable
to the practice. Residents Of North
Fourth street In Burlington are rem
resented in the Hawk-Eye as believ-
ing that they have the very best
pavement in that city. The reasons
for this belief are thus stated:
ut is dustless in summer, and as
it sheds water like duck, there is
no mud It is an old macadam pave
its days of usefulness. Sufficient
crushed stone was used to level it up,
oil is applied perhaps twice a year,
and the roadway remains in perfect
condition.
The experience of Marshalltown,
though limited, has been satisfactory.
Crude oil is cheap and OIL sprink'ing
is endorsed by the Times-Republican
OF that city as very certain way to
avoid complaint of disagreeable con-
ditions for passengers and residents
along the right-of-way. The T.-R.
adds.
Crude OIL is being used largely on
public street. where lack of paving
and heavy travel create dust. In Iowa
cities the residence streets leading in
from the country are not usually well
paved and the dust clouds raised by
rapid automobile travel create almost
unbearable conditions Lawns are
covered with gray dust and through
open windows and doors the house is
filed and defiled. 1t is not only very
dirty but very unsanitary.
These dirt streets given over to
much traffic and pleasure riding
should be treated with oil On one
paved street in Marshalltown house
| holders have experimental before
their own lots with great success The
oil kills the dust If the dirt streets
were thus treated it is probable that
the cost of treatment would be bal
anced by the reduced cost of labor re-
quired to keep the streets in condi-
ton under present conditions for oil
ed roads are practically impervious
to rain after several treatments
The Webster City Freeman-Tribune
reports upon experience with oil in
that city as follows:
"The experiment In road building
by the use Of crude oil, which was be-
gun about a week ago ON small sec
ton of South Wilson avenue, has
every indication of being success.
"The oil was spread on the street
about half inch thick, the street be-
ing swept clean before the oil was
applied, after which 1t was covered
with a sprinkling of fine sand. Traffic
was then shut off from that part of
the street for about thirty-six hours,
after which it was opened for travel.
Considerable travel has crossed the
oiled section since and 1t looks as
though it were going to stand the test
for the rest of the summer At pres
ent the oiled section has the appear.
ance of rubberoid roofing, the dirt.
sand and oil mixing together into a
| tough, elastic dressing that makes a
very smooth surface.
i Street Commissioner Cunningham
when asked as to his opinion of the
/ experiment. this morning, stated that
! ne was well pleased with it thus far,
put thought that the oil should be an
piled again in about month or six
weeks. He says that the soil in that
Pa .iSuioi VICINITY is peculiarly adapt
cd 10 the Oil treatment, and thinks it
VIII work to perfection on any similar
4 SOIL. However, he says that he is
very doubtful as to It's value when ap-
pneo 10 black dirt road that is in.
cnned to retain lots of moisture. He
also stated that, while the dressing
appears to make good street sur
lace, ne believed it would be
detrimental to automobile tires
Pasadena, Calf, has ffty-eight
mile OF oiled streets. These are nat
urai dirt roads and they are sprinkled
at least twice week. Aside from thi,
they receive little or no attention
! except to keep them in reasonable re