The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-09-24
MACADAM HAS
SEEN ITS DAY
No Longer Regarded as Economi.
cal Road Material

Tina; macad0m as "A road building
material has seen its day, and that
the movement for more durable
type Of road construction is rapidly
gaining strength" is the assertion
cf the American Motorist. Roads
which will not only prove serviceable
as 10 the number of vehicles passing
over them but which VIII also stand
the stresses of heavy trucks carrying
loads of eight and ten tons are requir-
ed by conditions of modern traffic" it
continues.
students of road conditions in this
and other upper peninsula counties
may not be agreed about the loads of
eight or ten tons" but they will ac-
cept the dictim that water bound mac
adam will no longer do. This type,
IL has been clearly shown, will not
stand automobile traffic except at the
expense of prohibitivc cost of main
tenance. The article in the American
Motorist continues:
What Is Being Done.
THAT new macadam construction
has been practically eliminated from
consideration by traffic requirements
on the principal highways, is admitted
bY the foremost highway engineers OF
the country. California has adopted
concrete with "A bituminous surface for
almost its entire mileage of state
roads now being constructed The state
40 ,I
commended concrete or brick-prefcr-
ably concrete ON account of low cost
for its recently established system of
state aid roads. The board of consult
ing engineers Of the New York High
way commission has recommended
concrete for iiG miles OF state roads
now being built under inadequate spe-
ciiications. "a prevent the waste of
money already expended"
THE Lincoln Highway association is
reported Ia have adopted concrete con
structi1n FOR the transcontinental
Lincoln highway The Chambers OF
Commerce of Chattanooga ana Knox
vile. are promoting a concrete high
way between those cities, as section
of a through route TO the south and
southwest; and innumeTable counties
and other subdivisions are adopting a
similar type Of construction for their
roads of heaviest traffic.
Concrete Takes the Lead.
Portland cement concrete seems al
present to have the lead among the
| "arious types Of roads which may be
considered durable by reason of it's
comparatively low first cost, and its
excellent record as a paving material.
Most If the other surfaces which
might be available. such as brick on
broken stone mixed with bitnminous
substances, require for durability and
strength concrete foundation. 50 that
the cost of suriacing would be added
10 that of The concrete.
"a bitumnous concrete is much in
favor for roads in some sections of
the country. but its use is limited by
the expense Of its construction. Liquid
asphalt; has been used To some extent,
but the supply of this material is linn
tied. Refined tars and asphaltic oils,
while making excellent top dressings,
preserving and making dustless road
surfaces, do not add materially To the
structural strength of the roads on
which they are used; it is therefore to
concrete, either as "A foundation or for
the whole road structure. that those
engineers are looking who recognize
the present and approaching traffic on
the main highways of the country.
1T is always possible that new
material or combination of materials
may be discovered or invented which
will enable durable roads to be built
at lower cost even than concrete.