The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1914-05-15

The next task which faces the State
Road Commission is the spreading Of
crude oil on all improved highways.
The work will probably be completed
by July 1. The cost will be somewhat
in excess of 100000.
The policy of spreading oil on the
roads is followed by the commission
with two main objects in view: The
preservation of the roads, as the oil
has a binding effect, and the laying
of dust
The most visible results of the
policy of oil surfacing are the slippery
conditions which are rendering the
roads almost unfit for horse and team
traffic, though very desirable for use
by automobiles. To overcome these
undesirable conditions for horses the
state commission will resort to the use
of different kinds of oil with the ex-
pectation that while the dust will be
laid and while the binding effect will
be secured, rougher surface will be
obtained Numerous have been the
suggestions and tests that coating Of
sand or ashes be spread over the roads
at the same time the oil was applied,
thus securing foothold for horses.
These tests have been failures The
result was nothing. The application
of oil was spoiled and at the same time
rougher surface was not produced.
The problem which has confronted
the State Roads Commission and
which the commission has sincerely
and honestly striven to meet is the
construction of roads which will meet
the needs of automobiles and of
horses In meeting the problem the
commission has encountered two an
tagonistic elements, the automobile
owner and the farmer. The fact has
been recognized and dealt with accord
ingly that the automobile is here to
stay. The automobile owner who is
heavily taxed, has demanded smooth,
hard, durable, and dustless roads The
smooth roads have been serious inn
pediments to the farmer in hauling his
crops to the market and in pleasure
driving. The use of the horse for
pleasure driving, not only by farmers
and by farmers sons, but also by city
and town residents, has been wholly
abolished except in sections where dirt
roads still prevail.
Chairman o. E. Weller, of the State
Roads Commission, is one of the vic
tins of the superabundance of auto
mobiles and the smoothing of roads.
He owned a beautiful and well-match-
ed pair of driving horses to which he
was attached. He was not long in dis
covering that all the pleasure of driv-
ing his double team was destroyed in
lodging automobiles, let alone the con-
slant slipping. He disposed of his
horses at sacrifice and invested in
an automobile.
Harrison Ride, one of the best-known
residents and farmers of Baltimore
county, frankly confesses that the us
of horses for pleasure driving is
more possible. He relates that
years gone by, when automobiles
not crowd the road he could eaI
drive from his home near TowsoN
the Green Spring Valley in an
Now two hours are required fo4
journey. The extra hour, Mr.. Il
says, is lost in lodging automobl
He further says that the hoofs of
favorite driving mare have been Gu.
away in constant reshodding rendered
necessary because of the smooth roads.
An English concern has offered a cash
prize of $4,000 to the man who will in
vent horseshoe which will meet the
requirements of modern smooth roads
and at the same time not tear UP the
roads.
The State Roads Commission is con-
stantly in receipt of complaints from
farmers and other horse drivers that
the oiled roads are too smooth; that
they are unfit for use; that they have
TO surrender the right of way to auto
mobiles. The commission is meeting
these complaints as best it can It's
most effective answer is its policy of
concrete roads instead of macadam
roads. There has been no complaint
of concrete roads by farmers and other
drivers of horses. These roads have a
rough surface which will not wear off,
The general policy of the State
Roads Commission in favor of concrete
as against macadam roads is indicated
by figures furnished by the commits
sion. Thus far IS miles of concrete
roads have been completed There
are under construction 67.10 miles. In
cluded in the uncompleted work is
magnificent stretch of 35 miles of con-
crete road between Salisbury and
Ocean City.