Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-04-05
THIRTY COUNTIES I'M ILLINOIS
PLANNING PERMANENT
HIGHWAYS.
TO RAISE MILLIONS FOR ...sr
s GRADING AND SURFAciNG
State Highway Commissioner Comes to
Defense Of Gravel iehways-Ma-,
oadam Economical Where Raw Ma
terial Is AvailabIe-Concrete Sur
facing Most Popular. o., 5.t....
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
/ Des Moines, April 5. = Practically
/ thirty counties in Illinois are planning
to issue bonds for building state aid
system of roads. according to state
ment recently made by W. w. Mari,
chief state highway engineer in that
state. Cook county proposes to issue
100000 worth of bonds, five counties
are planning, an issue of million and
a half, three counties a million and a
quarter and others from $4,000 to d
million. In discussing the various types
of road Mr.. MARI says:
Gravel road construction has been
so much abused that many people be-
lieve the type really worthless and a
waste of money under any conditions.
There is no greater mistake. Gravel
roads, in the Estate Of Illinois, have a
very large field of usefulness which
should not be overlooked.
The great trouble with gravel roads
seems to be that they were either inn
properly constructed. improperly main
tanned or seriously overwhelmed with
traffic. Onlyaan% expert can determine
with any degree of accuracy just how a
SraNel rOad SHOuiu De maintained Ut
located" -.
Various Types of Roads.
Mr.. MARI says the type of road to
be constructed whether of earth,
gravel niacadam, concrete or brick
should depend on the location of the
road and the amount Of traffic which
passes over it.
"Macadam roads have their sphere of
toJ- fnr
their construction are available at a
less cost than the material for gravel
roads, macadam construction will be
used" says Mr.. Mari in discussing
what is to be done in Illinois. THE
methods employed will be the same as
in the construction of gravel roads
with the provision of course that the
type is suitable to the location in which
it is proposed to use 1t.
The term tbituminous as used in
connection with road improvement re-
fers to the use of either tar or asphalt
as a binder for gravel or broken stones.
1t is applied either to stone or gravel
in place on the road in which case a
bituminous macadam results or it is
mechanically mixed with the stone or
gravel in a concrete mixer, spread upon
the road, and rolled while hot. In the
latter case we have what is called
bituminous concrete construction.
I'm recent years the Portland cement
concrete road has become the most
popular type of construction for heavy
traffic rural roads. 1t is composed OF
stone or gravel, sand and cement,
mixed in such proportion that the re-
suit will be a very Dense hard and
durable surface This type properly
constructed will sustain almost an I'M
limited amount of automobile traffic
and a reasonably heavy horse drawn
traffic. : 1t is easily maintained in the
early part of its life and is an Ideal
foundation for resurfa cling when this
becomes necessary. 1t is not expensive
when the amount of-traffic justifles its
use and the only objection to it seems
to be the development OF cracks due
mostly to temperature changes. These
cracks, however, are easily repaired at
small cost and when properly main
tanned are Of little consequence ana
do not materially affect the fdura bility
of the pavement. a@f 9S
"Proba bly, the greatest recent ad-
vance in methods of. construction has
been made in brick roads. The brick
road is usually laid ons a. concrete
base. tho it is an ideal material for re-
surfacing old gravel and maca dam
roads. Until lately it was customary to
spread as and cushion or bed over the
concrete base on which to lay the
brick. Now, however, we are tending
RAPIDLY to the substitution of mortar
bed or to the elimination of the bed
entirely and laying the brick directly
on the fresh concrete base. The proper
applica ton Of the cement grout filler
is the most important part of brick
construction and with careful attention
70 this detail very satsifa Glory results
NAV be obtained even with the use OF
poor brick. A good brick pavement
will sustain the maximum amount OF
traffic coming on the main highways
and is probably the highest type OF
constru ction now in general use on
country roads. W. q
The question OF durability Is so In
timately connected with the amount
and character Of traffic. the quality OF
material and Workmanship and the in
telligent and consistent maintenance
given that it is impossible to make
definite statement as to the life OF any
type of road surface. In genera II
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