Rock Island Argus., 1913-08-09
MACADAM ROADS
DECLARED POOR
Head of Automobile Association
Tells of Success of Con-
crete Highways.

'Waterbound macadam roads, which
for practically a century have been
adequate for the traffic. have now,
under the new conditions, become
obsolete, and their further construc-
tion means a serious waste of publit
funds, is the opinion of former Pres.
ident Lewis r, Speare. of the Amer
ican Automobile association.
"Macadam may answer for side
roads and cross roads where there is
little travel to wear the surface into
DUST, and few fast moving vehicles tG
throw the dust into the air to be blown
| away. But for main roads, any
where and everywhere, a rtethod OF
construction must be pu; IN operation
| which will produce durable roads.
| Wherever it can be used concrete
makes a most excellent road, or a
road base, for some other kind of sur
| face. The state of California has
adopted concrete construction for prac-
| tically its entire system of state high
ways, after a most thorough investi.
CATION. Wayne county. Michigan, has
! been building concrete roads for the
past five years, and they have given
most excellent satisfaction.
Before the Wayne county author
tiles had learned by experience how
to build concrete roads with expansion
joints to prevent the concrete from
cracking in cold weather and buckling
in the hot sun, several miles of roads
were built which broke into frequent
cracks. To repave these cracked src-
tions of road they poured hot bitumi-
nous material into the cracks and Gov,
cred them with sand. This has worn
; to the leve! of the concrete, and the
, whole form most delightfully."- smooth
5 road to travel over, and one which
2 looks as If it would stand for a gener-
5 alton at least.
''In some sections of the country the
3 concrete is being used as base, and
2 two or three inches of broken stone,
!. mixed with bituminous materials, put
: on for a surface. If properly built this
}. kind of road should be very durable,
and should justify the additional ex-
n pense. The concrete will furnish the
I strength required to hold up the loads
which are constantly growing heavier,
while the bltumenized surface will
L prevent the creation of dust, making
the road pleasant to travel over.
THE only proper way to figure on
the cost of road, is to consider both
{ the original cost and the expense OF
/ maintenance for a period of ten or fif.
l, !, teen years. Under present conditions
of travel macadam road would have
: to be surfaced every two or three
~ years, and would be in bad condition
r two-thirds of the time. The aggregate
II cost would be far greater than that ol
:. a concrete road with bituminous sur
n face and the latter would present 6
q good road all the time."
# Detroit Aug. 9-County Board Com
,r missioner Edward N. Hines has beer
d the host of an important state dele
cation which spent several days here
IF inspecting the Wayne county cemen
d roads which are to be the model TO
10 the Lincoln highway, the oceanic
er ocean connected cement thoroughfar,
IN to be constructed as a national me
le mortal to Abraham Lincoln. The larg
sr est body of visitors comprised mem
n. bers of the Illinois Association of MI
~ nicipal Contractors. headed by Shert
f. dan A. Tuttle, of Decatur, ILL.,, pres
dent Of the association. Every one II
e. the party expressed themselves as as
Sc founded with the progress made !
r. road building, the permanency OF tn
IS, cement highway, the small mainter
IN ance expense which does not excee
as SIS per year per mile, and the smoot
u dustless surface as the visitors rod
of over stretches, some Of which were
is miles long without jolt or SLOW
lg down.