West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-01-13
GOOD ROADS FACTS
OF VITAL IMPORTANCE

III might DO wise TO wait and see
how Portland district improves and
increases In value and this might
please the people OF that district.
How much OF lead will It give them
and how long shall wo waitH Until
by contrast with her prosperity King
wood district will be out of tho run
ming?
II is queer that whenever a case Is
cited where concrete has failed we
find that the road Is not concrete at all
but somo other material "a In tho cassA
OF the Tarvia road In Harrison counts
near Clarksburg which Is pointed out
as q notable failure OF concrete pay
Ing.
IL is understood that we win have
maoadam on our grades but It is In
teresting TO note that at st. Marys,i I
w, Va, where tho extremely heav
traffic of the oil fields goes In an{
out over road having a 9% per cent
grade paved with concrete that the
horses have less trouble than on any
other material. In West Union where
Church street is paved with concrete
on grade OF 17lA per cent and whore
several other streets are paved with
the same material they are enthusiasts
tic in it's support.
From Newport, Washington coun-
ty, o., where they have concrete on
per cent grade we learn that users
do not need calks on their horses until
they get off on tho dirt roads as they
do not slip on the concrete.
We wonder how the average life OF
a concrete road is estimated when no
one knows what tho maximum life OF
such pavement is. Tho old Roman
structures OF which mention is often
made were constructed with Puzzo-
Ionic cement which is made from vol
canic lava. It is not inferred and no
engineer will say that Il is the equal
OF modern Portland cement. IL these
Roman structures built with a COM
paratively poor cement will stand for
centuries how long will concrete roads
made with true Portland cement lastf
We have concrete paving which has
for 20 years been carrying heavy steel
tire traffic and on the greater part OF |
II ono can find still the finishing marks
as sharp and clean-cut as the day t..
was laid.
Ohio is well satisfied with SIS 400
miles OF concrete roads. Huron coun-
~ alone boastlng OF G5 miles, and
Mediva county 30 miles. Government
and state engineers chose concrete for
that most important section OF the
national pike, "a miles long and 16
feet wide, between GAINESVILLE and He
bron, while a number OF other sections
of the pike are concrete.
Five sections OF the Lincoln high
way in Nebraska are being built of
concrete; New York State turning 10
more durable types of construction,
laid "a miles OF concrete I'm 1914; Wis
consin thinks so much OF her con-
crete roads that they hold parades and
celebrations when they are opened
and one county is voting 100000 for
them.
Surely the Investigations OF epgi-
neers and business men throughout
the country are not TO be taken light
ly and passed as of no account.
Wayne county, Michigan, having
adopted concrete as their standard
type OF construction, has built In the
last seven years 40 miles, and on the
, woodward avenue road with $500 TO
5000 vehicles passing every day more
than any road I'm Preston county will
ever be likely to have. there is no
Derceptlble wear.
The last annual report OF this coun-
ty states that where Detroit in eight
years OF phenomenal growth shows an
Increase in property valuation OF 47.7
per cent the county outside OF Dc
troit shows an increase over the same
years OF S2.2 per cent due 70 good
roads
To accuse the corporations OF
Matching this bond issue as a brilliant
scheme is foolish, and childish. n
they are willing TO pay the majority
OF the cost and we get most OF the
benefit will we vote It DOWN Not Il
we are awake.
The tax we are paying today for
mud roads is about $500 per acre, Just
the amount that we pay for food stuffs
brought into the state pof acre. And
these food stufs come from sections
having improved roads. which means
improved farms, crops and markeil.-sss'
at The best prices.
Have the farmers OF New York.
/ Ohio, Pennsyigauia. Maryland and q
score or other states been sorry they
voted Tor Improvement? Not n we
may Judge by their enthusiasm over
new bond issues.
Let us investigate Il carefully and
without bias and we will show our.
selves Just as progressive and ap-
preciatlve Of the opportunity before
us as any other section.
The public roads are the property
Of every man. woman and child equal
ly. No one individual owns more OF
them or has more privileges on them
than another, they are for the free
use and pleasure Of all
The proposed bond issue OF Sf6s 900
will be used to bring permanent roads
nearer TO overV home and Farm -