The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1915-10-21
PROGRAM
SAYS ENGINEER
CONTINUED from page one)

and proper methods to be emploved
TO the extent that the management
OF our rural roads is becoming a
recognized science in this county as
it has been for the past seventy wears
in Europe.
Uniform standardized methods
methods In many matters connected
with road maintenance cannot be at
tanned; and the attempt of such
standardized methods frequently will
frequently will destroy the useful
application of personal experience
and judgment. It is not likely that
there can be any universal solutions
to this problem as such factors as:
local conditions and requirements,
character and extent of traffic, local
facilities of obtaining suitable mater
ial, consideration of cost and avail
able funds, all enter into the prob
lens in any state to such an extent
that proposed standards must be mod
flied to secure the most satisfactory
and suitable results.
"The practice of making road re-
pairs once year that has been so
long in vogue in this country has re-
peatedly demonstrated its inefficiency.
But in those states where some form
of maintenance has been adopted, it
has been found SO efficient, successful
and satisfactory that to return to
the old system would meet with the
strongest kind of public protest.
Maintenance is really a series of
small repairs and it is more econom-
ical to make these repairs as needed
than to do it periodically. Defects
in road grow alarmingly if neglect
ed and the cost of restoring the road
to normal condition is much greater
than if attention is given when the
repairs are small item. The advan-
tage Of construction repairs is not on
ly financial one, but the advantage
of good smooth road to the trav-
cling public is self-evident.
/ Maintenance
"The expenditure of large sums of
money in the construction of good
roads is commendable, but the neg
| lect of such roads after construction
is criminal. There is no more import
ant duty resting with the civic bodies,
state, county, and town, than the pro-
per maintenance of existing roads at
fccting the welfare of the commune
ties.
| "It is easy enough to keep a few
miles of earth or gravel road in re-
/ pair; but when the mileage is up in
the hundreds, it becomes a serious
problem, and this is the problem now
before most of our counties. As soor
as a road is built or improved, it be-
gins to wear out and maintenance be-
comes necessary-no matter how vel
the road may have been built or o.
what material.
| "As a well built house must have
tight roof and q dry cellar, so mus
o road have a waterproof top and
dry foundation. This is secured b!
maintaining smooth surface, goo'
crown and continuous drainage.
], "The surfaces of roads are subjec
to deterioration by the following des
tructive agencies: mechanical;
chemical; 3Iphysical.
"The mechanical destruction !
caused by traffic wear and impact Q
horses shoes. Both loosen, crush an
abrase the surface, forming dus
which with rain forms mud in tim
which increases deterioration rapid
lly. Automobile traffic is chiefly re
sponsible for the travelling" Tor des
. truction of bind.
"The chemical destruction is the r.
, suit of natural decomposition and Q
the carbonic acid contained in raj
and surface water, dissolving col
Donates Of lime and iron, the bindin
material of the surface.
"The physical destruction is due
repeated freezing and thawing pre-
; cess, which causes the heaving an
loosening of the surface, and the RAJ
and wind assist in carrying away tn
loosened material.
"The mechanical destruction frol
traffic is by far the most importan
Hence the necessity of surface ma
e terial that is hard, so as to resl'
s abrasion; also tough, so as to resi'
: rupture due to impact; and also
good cementing or binding power,
? as to recement after being abrase
by traffic.
Traffic Determines Method
. "We all know that the earth roe
is not suitable in some instance
ur9 Pocouso II will not ecOnOn