The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1914-06-11


snced road builders that the cost oi
maintaining a concrete road through
long term of years would be even
greater than that of a brick road
There is no doubt bat that ccncrete
for highway construction is extreme
ly desirable In some sections of the
country, where such construction
should be resorted to on account OF
the necessity of utilizing local ma
terial to the best advantage
A bituminous macadam road, 1e
feet wide, made by the penetration
method, based on an experience OF
about six years, and carrying a heavy
traffic, can be built for about $4,000
per mile. Money being worth per
cent interest fixes the interest main
tenance at $500 per mile per year.
Add to this q sum not to exceed $500
per mile per year for proper contin.
uous maintenance, and this means
maintenance for an indefinite period.
(This last statement or proposition
may seem strange to the layman, but
1t Is the conclusion reached by au.
thorities who have given this subject
careful thought and study.
The average cost of an ordinary
water-bonded macadam road, 16 feet
wide, with carpet or a bituminons
cover, properly constructed, can not
re estimated at much less than $4,000
per mile. Money being worth per
cent interest, fixes the interest main
tenance at $400 per mile per year. To
which must be added a maintenance
charge of an average of about $3.50
GER mile per year.
The above estimated cost of main
tenance of q water bonded macadam
highway is based upon French re-
ports. Because of the fact that there
are no authentic records in existence
on the maintenance of such roads, of
any country or any state, with the
exception Of France. The French re-
ports cover the maintenance of $4,000
miles of so-caleld state highways for
the year 1912.
The proper maintenance of a water
bonded macauam highway is also
continuous maintenance. Continuous
maintenance means added strenstn
and a beIter road from year to YER.
Eternal vigilance muSt be the waL1 IA
word Wher we speak of malntenaA.,e =
The average cost of gravel ro..I
10 feet wide can not be estimated al
much less than about $4,000 per mile
Apply the interest charges as above
together with an estimate of aboul
$500 per mile per year for mainte.
nance, and you have another extreme
ly desirable type of construction.
Apply the same ideas as above t.
the more inexpensive types or class
es. such as sand, clay and earta
roads. Under proper supervision
and direction of proper authorities,
problems are presented that are
worthy Of the consideration of all
who are interested in highway in.
The following should be given care
full consideration, viz: Given two cen.
ters OF population, which of cou--e
are marketing points connected by q
public highway. say 30 miles in
length, wise and experienced roao
builder naturally would take into con
sideration the units that such hig.
way at various points would be calleu
upon to carry. Should he be Mindful
Of the real science in road building
viz: the construction of the greates
number of miles at the minimum
cost, he would recognize the fact tina
at point equa-distant from these
TWO centers of population, the high
way would be called upon to carry
he minimum number of units. Will,
1t and near the centers Of population
he same highway might be called
lpon to carry the maximum numbe.
)f units.
Therefore no road builder of ex
)erience, and desirous of conservins
he best interests OF the public a.
arge, would assume to adopt a un,.
orm plan of construction on this PAL
ocular road for it's entire length
This same principle naturally ano
necessarily must apply to the con
truction of any main thoroughfare
any principal points.
The vital problem to be solved is
hat of maintenance, and it is safe to
ay that no system has ever been in
!ugurated in any state for systematic
of macadam highways
'qual to that of France. However.
he French plan or system was in ex
stence in New York state for a short
'eriod, and proved to be very sue.
essful and efficient, until such sys.
EN- was subserved for the purpose of
political interests. Many
niles of poorly constructed stone
Dads are classified as macadam high
Ways, and the layman or the eleventh
lour experts, as above referred to,
re too prone to condemn without a
of the subject.
The French road builders are pro
ounced in advising the American
eople to continue the construction of
nacadam highways, wherever practi-
able. with the statement that such
Is tha praatact addad