The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-26
IDEAL ROAD SURFACE.
The Substance Thereof Said TO Be I'm Use
In n Western lIty.

To THE EDITOR OF TILE SUN-Str. In
THE SUN of October 10 "Bitumlnous''
writes that he conceives the ideal road
surface to be "noiseless, mudless dustless.
resilient, modest in first cost and upkeep.
simple to lay and capable OF withstanding
average traffic burdens for thirty to nifty
years, at an annual cost a square yard for
repairs not exceeding, say, two cents. and
an average cost limit OF 81 IA square yard
for such surface two inches thick"
II will interest 'Bituminous' and other
good road advocates to learn that the
Identical substance which he says would
approach the IDEAL" having all the fea-
lures submitted above. and many more too
numerous TO mention In this communica-
ton. Is In practical use in a Western city.
The mistake that all road builders
mako Ia that they follow the Old ideas and
customs. which for horse drawn vehicles
and slow traffic met the requirements of
their day and time The advent of tho
automobile. with its high speed and rubber
tires, called for n totally different concep-
ton OF construction which has not been
attained, principally through Ignorance
and custom. The old ideas seem to be
firmly rooted In the minds OF the road
experts" and from what | observe on
our newest highways and pavements II Is
the old cry OF rigidity, rigidity and stil
more rigidity. with no compensating wear
or durability TO show for the great cost.
The road that approaches ideal condi-
lions Is one In which crushed stone Is
eliminated and Concrete rigidity Is rele-
gated to the has beens," for herein lies
all the trouble heretofore encountered and
90 be encountered as long as this custom
continues. The ideal road. such as has
been dreamed of and which meets the re-
quirements of tho most eNactng, Is made
as follows: The substance OF an existing
road Is taken from the bitches, sides or
elsewhere. preferably OF loan or clay, ana
Is thrown into a slow revolving cylinder,
inside OF which, revolving rapidly in the
opposite direction, is another cylinder OF
smaller diameter which under sufficient
heat catches and In its rapid rotations
pulverizes the heated oarth by impact. At
the same time all moisture is eliminated
and the resultant product becomes atom
lied. and in this condition of heat Is
sprayed with hot asphaltum. in the pro-
portion OF Is per cent asphalt 10 So per
cent. earthly dust. automatically measured
and mixed.
The existing roadway having been pre-
pared by shaping and browning, with
curhs set and no further work expended
on tho base he Il what is known as
"dirt" road or n modern macadTmized
highway. this material Is spread over
the surface in any desired thickness, usu-
ally two inches at the curb and three 20
four inches at the crown. tamped or rolled
and when cool Is ready for service. We
get here material with every atom OF
dust coated alike when hot with hot AS
phal'. which Immediately becomes homo
geneous. dense and compact, and cannot
be separated mechanically.
This material. then, Is voldless. and
hence Is not affected by heat or cold is
mudicss md dustless; Is nolscless and re-
silent: cannot crack. nor warp nor buckle (:
Is free from waves and corrucnt'ons (:
. , l.. ohop1,tsa1t- nd eLtA1ipty a
impossible. The cost and upkccp. COM
pared with other tried materials, Is almost
nil. CHARLES r. sHopER.
New YoRK, October %.