The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-11-23

w. II. Campbell of New York, a
special representative of the good
roads board of the Associated Motor
clubs, arrived in Fargo today to make
a study of the good roads situation IN
North Dakota, and particularly in Cass
county. He is accompanied by Cottrell
Morgan an engineer, who is making a
technical study Of highway conditions.
Among other matters they will compile
statistics of the road question which
will be furnished all the automobilists
throughout the country.
/, While North Dakota is backward
in the building of natural lake asphal-
tic highways similar to those built in
the east" said Mr.. Campbell, there is
plenty of agitation here for. better
roads and in some districts this agita-
ton has developed into enthusiasm" >"
But enthusiasm will not build roads.
All apostles of highways which should
be passable at all seasons of the year
should unite into q strong organiza-
tion and put the matter squarely up
to the state highway commission. Un-.
less a live spirit is shown you will
never get good roads. .-,.s...s
From statistics at hand it is shown
that the roads in this country are
built too cheaply and that when signs
of deterioration become apparent the
upkeep and maintenance charges be-
come excessive and eventually your
highway goes to pieces under the con-
Htant pounding and pulling of heavy
traffic. caused principally by the motor
car and motor truck. In this section
you spend from $4,000 to $4,000 per
mile to build a. road and three times
that to maintain It. In the east they
build roads costing from $4,000 to
$4,000 per mile and practically Moth
ing to maintain them, The New York
=.
natural lake asphalt and the thought
in mind in building them is perman-
ency. Your roads do not even suffice
for the requirements of present day
travel. not to speak of the constantly
increasing traffic of the future.
when state roads were first agitat-
ed in the east there was a strong OBJ
lection from the farming interests ,aad
extra legislation was necessary to pass
the various highway budgets. The
farmers blocked the appropriations IN
every way possible. But after few
miles of road were built In different
sections and the farmers saw the
economic value of hard highways
which were passahle at all seasons of
the year, the sentiment changed. To-
day the eastern farmer is a staunch
booster for more and better roads and
If there isn't a state highway passing
his farm or close to 1t, he wants to
know the reason why. He will keep
after the representative at Albany un-
til he gets some satisfaction.
The farmer was educated to- the fact
that passable roads helped him in his
business. He found out that he could
get to the city market with his produce
at any season of the year and return
with his city merchandise. He could
visit his neighbor, go to church with
greater ease, and he also found that
he could carry bigger wagon loads and
also decrease the wear and tear on
horses, harness and wagon and save
many other Inconvenience which were
incident to previous travel
THE east wasted money in road
building at first on account OF expert
ment with various forms OF concrete,
bithulithic, brick and other forms of
roads. 1t was proven that the heavy
travel of the east quickly destroyed
the road surfaces and made the upkeep
charges high.
Roman Roads as Models.
Engineers were sent to Europe to
study the famous Roman roads which
were built over 1000 years ago and
are still looked upon as models. The
Romans looked upon road building as
an art. For years. and possibly
centuries, this art was lost; yet the
credit must be given the eastern states
for an attempt to restore it,
Roman roads were built of rock
which was bound together with the
natural lake asphalts which came from
the lakes bordering on the Mediter-
ranean. The Importation of this prod
uct In large quantities of this country
was out of the question on account of
the excessive duties. Small shipments
were made for experimental purposes.
Then the highway commissioners
sent their engineers down into the
natural asphalt deposits of Venezuela
and Trinidad Island In the British
West Indies. The natural deposits of
these places were found to contain the
true bitumens for permanent and
cordingly arrangements were made
with the Venezuelan government for
the importation of the asphalt and so
much of it has been used by New York
and Massachusetts. which are the
leading road building states. that the
government has been able to pay off
one third of its national debt.
"The eastern roads are noted for
their ductility. They are particularly
safe for horses to travel upon. The
high speed motor cars have no effect,
whatever on them. In the summer
they do not exude oil 1r pitch under
the heat OF the sun; neither do they
become hard and brittle in cold
weather, They never crack, and ex-
pansion joints are unknown. This
year New York spent $33,000,0OO 20
build 1,700 miles of natural lake
asphaltic highways and at the last
election the voters. by a. tremendous
majority, carried an appropriation of
$50,000,00U for state highway work next
year.
"The state highway commission of
North Dakota has asked for copy OF
the New York state specifications with
a view OF adopting certain portions
for future work in this state. Illinois
has adopted the specifications without
change and next year will go into
highway work on a. comprehensive
scale. Illinois has always been called
the mudhole of America, although it
is one of the richest in the union.
"rrhe farmers of North Dakota, who
are noted in the east for their pro-
gressiveness, should not show lack
adaiscial spirit in regard to fighway VS..
Any co-operative spirit which they
may show will not be against them. 1T
viii help them. And they viii find
that poor roads cost them more money
than good roads.
yet ii is to he hoped that both
North and South Dakota now entering