The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-09-07
ROAD FAILURES
CAUSED BY HEAVY
HORSE DRAWN LOADS
GREATEST DESTRUCTION TIC
HIGHWAYS is NOT DONE BY
AUTOS AND MOTOR TRUCKS.

The Massachusetts highway COM
mission after a full investigation, Of
ficially states in its annual report, re-
Gently issued, that the greatest cause
of the destruction OF modern roads
Is not the automobile nor the motor
truck. but tho heavily loaded vehicle
drawn by horses Massachusetts, has
long had the habit Of quietly pursuing
Investigations, and presenting official
reports thereon, While others are as
cussing and getting ready to invesu-
gate. It's road commission consists
of Colonel w. r. Sohler, chairman:
f. D. Kemp, and J. w. Synan. 1t
will be rememb ered that the first
official notice Of the damage to water
bound macadam ny automobiles, was
presented ythe Massachusetts COM
mission In its report for 1907.
In two instances quoted in the cur
rent report, so to rs ice teams day,
carrying three tons or more each on
2 Ia inch to 3-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 ice houses the roads are still in
good condition. These roads are of
macadam created with heavy as
phaltic oil,
The traffic study shows that II is not
the number of teams. but heavy teams
two or more horses. and heavy loads
on narrow tires~-that cause the fail
ure."
A carefully prepared statement as
to the causes of wear, and what GER
tain roads will stand, Is presented as
one of the results of the careful traf
flc study entered on some years ago
by the commission Among the es-
tablished results are the following:
A good gravel road will wear rea-
sonably well under daily traffic
composed OF so to rs light teams. %
to 80 loaded one horse vehicles. 10 to
IL loaded two or more horse drawn
wagons, and 100 to $50 automobiles.
With larger number of automob iles,
the gravel should be oiled. The oil
ing presents what Is spoken of as a
blanket surface" consisting of heav>
asphaltic oil and sand. II the oil be
applied hot, the blanket surface will
last three to five years; If cold, il
must be renewed every year
Oiled gravel Will stand fairly well
under 10 to 100 light teams. 80 20
/ SO heavy one-horse vehicles. 20 heavy
wagons with two or more horses, and
500 to 700 automobiles daily.
Waterbound macadam will stand
under a daily traffic Of IFS to 200
light teams. IT'S to 200 heavy one
| horse vehicles, and so to so, perhaps
more, heavy wagons with two or mors
/ horses. If even so to 100 automo-
biles per day go over the road at high
speed dust layers Will be serviceable
With really good dust-layer the road
will stand 300 10 500 automobiles a
| day, although the stones will wear.
Waterbound macadam with an oil
and sand blanket. applied hot. will
be economical with 150 to 200 light
teams 15- te-4 IA tte4tvy- oue-fOrse ve-
hicles, 20 to so heavy wagons with
two or more horses. and automobiles
up to 400, or more with fewer teams
and with so or more motor trucks.
The large number of automobiles
seems to keep the oil rolled down
when 1t would cut up and crum BILE
without this traffic. This same road,
however, will cut up and crumhle
under a traffic Of 100 heavy one
horse vehicles and so two or mora
horse wagons on narrow tires, such
! as loaded farm wagons, ice wagons,
loads of wood, etc.