Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-03-22

DOubJ W lnC NdplIdl JOulhdl mani bhlo
morning,
:.'We have made long stride on the
road that Detroit has travelled in lay
ing her concrete pavements. Upwards
of S5 miles of the type of solid con-
crete that we lay on our Salem street
has been put down in Wayne county,
Mich, of which Detroit is the center" /"
added Arenz.
He then spoke of the more severe test
on the concrete in Wayne county by
virtue of the heavier trucks and the
heavy tonnage that pours into the big
automobile city from the county at
large. Edward N. Hines, chairman of
the Wayne County Road Commission,
took a census of the traffcie at given
point, which showed that in four years
over 100000 vehicles (more traffic
than would 60 over an ordinary country
road in twenty years) had passed, with
out showing ruts, holes or bumps and
with next to nothing spent for surface
maintenance,
t"Salem can hold her head up in the
bid she makes for cOlonists," continued
Mr.. Arenz. "The man who comes from
well paved eastern section naturally
gives us credit for our concrete pave
ments. If the boosters for the San
Joaquin valley, in California, argue its
attractions, because of their 100 miles
Of concrete roads, we can claim that ouI
own good start points to the day when
Salem concrete will not only be laid in
the city but out into the country"
"The New York state appropriation
of fifty million is going into concrete
Even the Florida everglades are now
being invaded by the smooth everlast
ing concrete roads" "
''It should be remembered that Salem
can make strong bid over towns in
the valley that have. paid high prices
for the bitulithic. The easterner is nc
fool when he buys home. He comes
from the older section where concrete
is largely used in paving. They will
rate us high for our choice Of con
crete They will thank us for eliminat
ing that particular type of bituminou'
pavement that cannot be boldly guaran
teed to wear, and that comes high both
in first cost and expense Of mainte
nance.
"Near Seattle there is an experiment
that would make most any home seeker
shy away" Mr. Arenz declares. "Thif
road was said by its builders to be the
last word in road building, 1t cost the
taxpayers $4,000 per mile. 1t was
bitulithic, laid on a crushed rock found
alton. After the road was finished
Old Sol came at high noon with the
heat of a summer day and gave it
solar.plexus blow The tar top grew
soft under the heat. There were
spongy places beneath the crushed rock
Enter now the heavy wagons. Down
through the soft top, pressing the
crushed rock into the soft earth, went
the wheels. The $4,000 creation wreck
ed. OF course, the paving monopoly
that built the road came up and rebuilt
it, but burnt child breads the fire and
when the commissioners planned to put
in second road Of the same pershablC
type, the taxpayers rose up and public
opinion made the authorities use con
crete. E"
Mr.. Arenz harks back to the attitude
of the engineers who are laying con
crete for roads. "Water may stand OF
this concrete and no harm follows,
saws Arenz "With bitumen, standing
water means rotted place. Then q
hole Into this the heavy vehicle drops
the hole grows and the pavement
wrecks. As a result Of scientific test
made by the Wayne county commits
siOners, light is thrown on the wearing
quality of concrete. The Pavement De
terminator, a device for testing pave
ments was used. This test showed that
sections of brick, cedar block, grant,
block and bituminous pavement under
the severe test, showed a wear Of ] y
inches. But the wear on concrete wa
hardly perceptible.
"Our Salem pavements laid with con
crete have a gritty surface, you mus,
remember. They afford good Traction
for all types of vehicles" concludes
Arenz, "Horses find good footing OF
concrete, without regard to wet wealth
or and no man can tell its length Of
service, since with each passing yea
concrete take on greater strength. "