The San Francisco call., 1913-08-10
ROAD BUILDERS
Of STATE REPLY
To THEIR CRITICS
Highway Commission Issues
Statement Covering the
Points on Which It Has
Been Attacked
SEEKS BEST RESULTS
WITH FUNDS AT HAND
Durability Is First Consider
ation-1,305 Miles High
Grade Paving

SACRAMENTO. Aug. 9.-The Califor-
statement in answer to recent news
paper criticism. 1t says. in part:
The construction that the commits
sion has largely adopted is cement
concrete base of a minimum thickness
of four inches, covered by half an ineh
of asphaltum blanket. OF the total of
242 9-10 miles. for which the contracts
have been let thus far, 1851 miles is
of this type. This standard is not be-
ing attacked What is being so false
" and unjustifably assailed is the con-
Etruction that applies 10 the remaining
44s miles.
Eleven and half miles of crushed
rock or water bound macadam out of
approximately 45 miles between San
Francisco and Santa Clara has received
particular attention in the way of
criticism. This water bound macadam
construction embracing three short
sections of the San Francisco and Santa
Clara line was recommended by the
engineers, after prominent citizens, tax
payers and officials along the route had
urged 1t. The reason was very simple.
There had formerly been water bound
macadam roadway. and it was deemed
g. waste OF money 10 tear IL up ana SUD-
stitute another construction.
Old Construction Unsatisfactory
The old construction was a high
grade pavement and 1t had given good
service The commission examined the
water bound macadam was in good
shape it decided to use that and 10
make whatever improvement the engi-
neers deemed advisable. Over this sub
Stantial foundation the commission de-
cided to put an inch and a half of as
phaltum concrete.
This construction is alleged TO be
shimsy 10 be gingerbread, to be a
cheat, and TO be whatever else ene-
mics can use in the way of denuncia-
tory words. The fact is, that this is
standard construction. IL has been
proved in all parts OF the world TO be
durable and acceptable in every way.
This very type of reforming the
macadam road and covering 1t with
heavy asphaltum blanket is now being
used largely in the states of Massa-
chusetts, New York and Pennsylvania
with gratifying results. England has
also largely adopted this style of road
way. The inch and half OF high grade
nsphaltum stuff makes superb wear
Ing surface for any kind of traffic, au-
tomobile, team or any other sort.
The charge that this construction is
fiimsy and temporary is untrue. The
premise of the criticism fails abso-
lutely.
ITO repeat of the 24s miles for which
contracts have been let. 1913 miles are
of the concrete base construction 1t
therefore follows that the highway
system is not being built of .fiimsy
construction, according, even, to the
critical newspaper itself.
'Of the "A miles that are not OF the
CnnFTafa hut nn MI 1fr11 10
paper tries to find base for its at
tack there are liz miles between San
Francisco and Santa Clara, concerning
which explanat tion has been made
In Yuba county there are approxI-
mately nine miles of oil macadam.
which is good, substantial construc-
tion. In MADEIRA county there are 10
miles. Between Hopland and Clover
dale section of mountain road 13
miles long has been graded and sur
faced with local gravel The gravel
was applied to solve mud conditions
BUILDING FOR DURABILITY
1T is the pronounced policy of the
commission to build for durability so
far as the funds will permit OF the
I total of 400 miles of the system, 1905
miles will be of high grade paving.
+ That is as much as we can build under
the bond issue of $4,000. 900. This 800
miles will be built substantially and
will last for a long time. Four hun
dred and eighty miles will be surfaced
I with local materials. The remainin e
9oo miles will be dirt roads, well graded
and well drained.
4 The policy is to construct well paved
roads where traffic is heaviest. to use
p surfacing of local materials where
the travel reaches medium proportions.
and to build dirt roads, chiefly in the
+ mountain regions, where the traffic is
1ightest.
Our maintenance fund will provide
for good surfacing of the dirt roads,
The new motor vehicle act will pro-
vide funds for the care and improve
ment of all our state roads
"As regards the criticisms by the
gentleman from northern California, all
that we can say regarding the work in
Sonoma county is that the contractor
went into bankruptcy and there has
been an unfortunate halting of the
work there which we could not prevent
He claims that the road had been
opened to the public. This is untrue
The contractor never finished his Job
and the road was never ready for use.
no wearing surface having been ap-
piled
1T appears that this critic in passing
over the road found a number of holes.
The truth is that these holes are test
holes, opened by our own men. We
found that the contractor had not lived
up to specifications altogether
The commission is earnestly trying
TO get the maximum of results out of
the funds at its disposal, and is making
use of the best engineering skill and
experience in all parts of the world"