New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-31
HEAVY HORSE VEHICLE
WORST ROAD BREAKER
Massachusetts Commission Ab-
solves Auto OF Blame for
Highway Damage.
MARROW TIRES AT FAULT
Traffic Study Entered On Some
Years Ago Yields Data at
Variance with Gen
eral Ideas.

The Massachusetts Highway Commits
sion. after a full investigation, officially
states in its annual report. recently Issued,
that the greatest cause Of the destruction
OF modern roads is not the automobile or
the motor truck. but the heavily loaded
vehicle drawn by horses. Massachusetts
has long had the habit Of quietly pursuing
Investigations and presenting Official re-
ports thereon while others are discussing
and getting ready to investigate. It's
road commission consists Of Colonel W ID.
Sohier chairman; +. ID. Ramp and J. W.
Svnan. II will be remembered that the
first official notice Of the damage 20
waterbound macadam by automobiles was
presented by the Massachusetts commits
sion I'm its report for 1907.
In two instances quoted in the current
report. fifty TO seventy-hve Ice teams a
day. carrying three tons or more each
on 2ia 70 inch tires. broke up within a
month the side OF the road on which the
loaded teams travelled while the surface
lasted three months on the other side
where the teams came back empty For
miles beyond the icehouses the roads are
still in good condition. These roads are
Of macadam treated with heavy asphaluc
oil
THE traffic study shows that IT is not
the number Of teams. but heavy teams
two or more horses and heavy loads on
narrow tres-that cause the failure the
report reads
carefully prepared statement as to
the causes Of wear and what certain roads
will stand is presented as one Of the re-
suits Of the careful traffic study entered
on some years ago by the commission.
Among the established results are the fol
lowing:
good Gravel road will wear reason
ably well under daily traffic composed
Of fifty 10 seventy-ive light teams TWEEN
ty-fve to thirty loaded one-horse vehi-
cles ten 10 twelve loaded two or more
horse drawn wagons and 100 TO 100 auto
mobiles with. a larger number OF auto
mobiles the gravel should be oiled. the
oilinc presents what is spoken OF as a
blanket surface" consisting Of heavy
asphaltic oil and sand. IT the oil be ap-
rred hot the blanket surface will last
three 10 five years If cold 1t must be re-
newed every year.
Oiled gravel will stand fairly well under
r. 70 100 light teams 30 10 20 heavy one
horse vehicles. 70 heavy wagons with two
mr. more horses and 500 20 100 automobiles
daily.
Waterbound macadam will stand under
a daily traffic OF rs to 300 light teams
IA 10 2O0 heavy one-horse vehicles, ana
80 IN 50. perhaps more. heavy wagons with
,vo ar more horses II even 80 10 lp
automobiles day go over the road at
high speed dust layers Will be service
ablo with a really good dust layer the
road will stand 800 to 800 automobiles
dav although the stones Will wear.
Ivaterbound macadam with an oil and
sand blanket. applied hot, will be eco
romtcal with $50 to 200 light teams. 10 10
100 heavy one-horse vehicles % 10 %
heavy wagons with two or more horses
and automobiles up TO l4U. OF mo'e
with fewer teams and with % or more
motor trucks The large number OF au-
tornobilos seems TO keep the oil rolled
dow, vhen IL would cut up and crurnpie
,,i,bout this traffic. This same ROAD
however will cut up and crumble under
n traffic OF 100 heavy one-horse vehicles
and 20 two or more horse wagons on
narrow tires. such as loaded farm
Wagons ice wagons, loads OF wood, etc.
The report further states MANY mill
ion dollars a year are being spent IN TINS
commonwealth TO secure improved roaus'
and provision should be made by law 10
prevent them from destruction the law
sbouId fix some maximum weight per men
width Of tire IN contact with the
ground "