The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-03-10
BUILDING
EXPERTS
HEARD
Bitu1ninous Pavements and
Treatment Discussed at
Boston Road Congress

Boston, Mass. March low.
R. Harrington, division engineer
Of the Massachusetts highway COM
mission. and Arthur H. Blanchard,
professor of highway engineering at
Columbia university, New York city,
talked upon Bituminous Roads and
Pavements and Their Treatment,
at the third session of the seventh
American Good Roads congress in
Paul Revere hail. Mechanics building.
In the hall were more than 600 en-
gineers, highway commissioners from
many Of the United States. superin-
tendents of streets in many Of the
large United States cities and larger
towns, contractors for highway and
Of paving materials. Some 5000 dele
gates are now registered, at Me-
chanics building at attending the
convention. The chief executive
secretary Of the American Road Build
ers association, under whose auspices
the congress and eighth annual Good
Roads show are being held, said that
he expected another 1000 delegates
and visitors to come to Boston.
Engineer harrington read his paper,
which was a consideration OF BIZ
luminous road and street work at
the morning session. He discuss
ed construction Of such roads and
their maintenance. The description
Of the building Of bituminous concrete,
bituminous nnacadam and bituminous
surface treated roads was technical
and largely concerning the standard
methods pursued in Massachusetts,
and in most OF the other states Of the
Union.
OF sheet asphalt he said: "The
speaker would state that sheet asphalt
on a concrete base has given excellent
service In many localities for many
years. and also; that with the possible
exception Of the larger departments,
where suitable equipment and expert
enced workmen are available, the
work should be done by contract and a
garantee, preferably for ten years,
should be required. ....
Surfaces or pavements constructed
under the Topeka Specifications and
similar pavements are apparently in
creasing in favor for roads and streets
carrying heavy travel and where. for
various reasons, It is not considered
advisable to use sheet asphalt or to
pay the royalty on patented pave
ments."
OF sand and asphalt roads Mr.. Far
rington said: THE highway commits
sion in this state has. we believe. de-
for the travel and conditions in those
sections where It IL being constructed
and the cost Of which is not greater
than the conditions will warrant.
These surfaces have not only en-
abled the highway commission to inn
prove the main roads on Cape Cod
and vicinity much sooner and at a
have been possible, but have also
solved satisfactorily the road problem
on many town highways. On the
other hand, these surfaces, construct
ed with the sand usually available
and without the addition of other ag-
gregate, viii not carry large amount
of heavy gravel, especially IL the pro-
portion OF horse-drawn vehicles Is
large.
Experiments are being made, how
ever including the addition of ce-
ment and stone dust, and the results
warrant the belief that
some combination will be found event.
ually, which will result in a surface
that will carry heavy travel economi-
cally. The present idea is q base of
the ordinary mixture and q wearing
surface of the stronger mixture Such |
a surface will not be a cheap one. but |
1t is expected. that the cost win be |
less than that of sheet |
asphalt and shihlar pavements."
Professor Blanchard reviewed Mr.. |
paper at the close OF the |
discussion. in which many |
had taken part, giving their expert |
ences in laying asphalt macadam and |
tar macadam roads throughout the |
rural districts. Professor Blanchard |
discussed the width OF roads and the |
problem Of maintaining them on their |
edges or shoulders" where the road /
treatment blends with the material of /
the sides OF the highway.
In the afternoon, at the fourth ses-
sion of the congress. the delegates dis
cussed Cement Concrete Roads and
The paper devoted to The