The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-01-24

1OQHQ IaAt CuS 1ud1ALcHduCC "a AAs0C
cadam roads. whether they are OF the
water-bound or bituminous type. Is
high. and that during prolonged dry
spells the roads ravel badly and the
dust nuisance is very disagreeable. To
overcome this. several OF the coun-
ties have treated their water bound
macadam roads with a light oil. To
make this satisfactory it requires
about two treatments per year, which
materially increase the maintenance
charge.
where the trafl1c is heavy on these
macadam roads and careful record OF
the first cost and maintenance charges
are kept. it is found that the best
macadam road costs practically the
same as concrete roads.
There Is no question but that brick
roads such as they are building in
Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York
are the most permanent roads we can
build. but the first cost makes them
practically prohibitive for Kansas
conditions.
Concrete Not Expensive.
However. with our comparatively
cheap cement, sand and suitable ma
terial for concrete aggregate. be-
lieve 1t would be possible to build
very satisfactory concrete roads at
reasonable cost, and I am very anx-
ious to see some demonstration con-
crete roads built in a number Of our
counties as soon as possible.
Il have already taken this matter
up with the cement companies and
ton has expressed q willingness to do
all they could to assist in this matter.
1 am not sure that they would. donate
the cement outright, but l am salts
fed that they will give very substan-
tial assistance to a number of coun-
ties desiring to build demonstration
concrete roads.
Il have the matter of obtaining spec
ial reduced freight rates on highway
material now up with the railroad COM
panies doing business within the state
Of Kansas, and have every assurance
that this rate will be granted in a very
short time. These rates will be similar
to those granted by the railroad COM
panies in Illinois, Wisconsin and Mis-
souri,. and will be about one-half of
the regular rates.
Most of the lime stones in Kansas
do not make satisfactory wearing sur
faces for macadam roads. nor would
they be satisfactory for concrete roads.
but they could be used in the bottom
courses. and a good grade of the Joplin
chats would make an excellent wear
ing surface. The city Of Atchison used
Joplin chats in the concrete streets
built during the past year. and con-
tract has been let for the construction
Of system Ct concrete drives here on
the college campus. and 1t has prac-
tically been decided that the chats
will be used for the wearing surface
I have talked with one of the firms
shipping chats from Joplin and have
| assurance that they would donate a
considerable amount of material for
demonstration concrete roads and
would be willing to make liberal pro-
position on q considerable amount of
material n order to thoroughly test
concrete road building in Kansas.
Build Roads in Shawnee County.
! With the assistance that can be
gotten from the cement companies and
on the Joplin chats, and the reduction
| in freight rates and possibly reduced
| rates on sand could be gotten. it seems
to me that it would be a good propo-
sition to build a quarter or a half mile
Of concrete road as an experiment in
your county the coming season
Il will be very glad indeed to have
you present this matter to your coun-
ty board with the request that they
write me frankly what they think of
such a proposition. I wish to assure
you that the college will be only too
glad to assist you in any way possi-
bic in such an undertaking.
Concrete roads and streets are a
success where the work is properly
done. Michigan. Illinois, Wisconsin.
Iowa, and Minnesota are doing a large
amount of concrete highway work.
Wayne county. Mich. has built about
20 miles, some Of which has been in
use under the heaviest kind OF traffic
for over four years, and is showing
up very well. Milwaukee county, Wis.
has built large mileage of concrete
which is proving very satisfactory, and
bv writing to the Wayne county high
way commission Tor its annual reports
some very valuable data on concrete
roads can be had free Of cost.
1T seems to me that with the large