Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-13
EQUIPMENT SELECTION
AN IMPORTANT FACTOR
Should Be Advised of Works
Requirements.
AN EXPERTS PRACTICAL ADVICE
Where Extensive Contracts Are Let
Contractor Should Provide Plant
Which Will Handle Business Ef-
ficicntly and Economically.

In discussing highway building
machinery. Arthur II. Blanchard. con-
sultinE highway engineer. of New
York. says:
The selection OF equipment for the
construction and maintenance OF high
ways should be based upon a considcra
ton OF the following factors: %
Character OF work; co specification
requirements covering plant equipments
(S) amount OF work: 90 portability
OF plant: tS) large and small units:
ts) ease OF manipulation: CD adapta
hility to different classes of work. The
practical necessity for the considera
ton of many OF the above factors is
Sclf-evidcnt.
Character of Work.
In the case of contractors whose
work is confined TO the construction OF
sheet asphalt pavements. and in the
case OF a department such as. for in
stance, that OF Wayne County, Michi-
gan. where the highway work consists
primarily of grading operations and
the construction of cement concrete
pavements, the problem is materially
sinpiifed. on the other hand. where
a contractors work covers the con-
roads ard pavements used in city,
county OF State the selection of the
seve-a. un IS OF plant equipment should
be based upon their adaptability to
different classes of work For exam
pie where cement concrete pavements
Eell a. concrete foundations are TO
.. constructed. in many cases type
OF mixer should be purchased which
IS satisfactory for the construction of.
paveIsnts, he requirements for which
are more specific than in the case OF
mixer used only on foundation work
In the modern practice OF highway
cluie stipulation which must be met
by machines and accessories employed.
AS illustrations might be cited. the
weight OF rollers, pressure limitations
in distributors, grouting apparatus and
details OF mixers for the manufac-
ture of h;tuminous concrete.
An Idcnl Equipment.
II is %w.dsn' ;hai contra f%r
purchase of an ideal equipmen, If the
. work is to be extensive in character
If the work is centralized and large n
work. in many municipalities q large:
we.l-cQuippe3 permanent plant VII!
prove econonl.cai II, on the Other
hand, the work IS large IN AMOUNT. but
distributed over considerable area,
small portable units MIL prove more
S s;53, Tor ss IN ;he IaSe .; MIMI S:
In.nous' concreie 10 Re lzid On a-ov.1-
oial highways
ssFsa II seas-4l Highway ~o:& anu
thei- organ .z.4Aaa acts 10; -ae!Ute
to-tDta Uho ere specialists = -at
luhEi.u lsDnr ~ rh-l"us ;E?es :. son
po-tApce lh3t simplicity :: -aacs mss
s.nsl ease 81 mEnt0u a;lor shrg3a -.
: ven S-'eSi weigh; II Gss stlt'clio-.
nj ncutnnent TINS Is 9arAcLli-ly t-ut
IN cnnnccJ,nr VIII various types .:
machines usor u INF usTls--utl3a1 =:
httunirnus su-THceS ni:UrL--I'tus me-
HH&n anC Ai.uG.Ip;,uE s.,s- c-s!: ;.Avt-
meiLS
AnHpTEhiHry Tpera-.
- N =.
Int sam: :tot - machine cal. Coz c!.
<c-ences u cs;EiL 20: grading work,
Elccrtlci ;!ors nigh: require rollers
We rnirr .-o-: ;v-s!Te 10 a:teen tons,
coerses = some types OF pavements
q isa 10 IKE lve-tog roller is stipulated.
= contractor who IS handling a small!
amount OF general highway work
10 purchase iwelve-ton roller suit
able for, both classes OF work men
toned above.
Departments and contractors are
necessarily forced TO consider tirst cost
Q: equipment. as the funds available
may not permit the installation OF the
most economical and efficient machines.
IN many cases where such conditions
e.e encountered = IS obvious that il
-: be practical Die 20 anticipate
ina. re "-o-k can be accomplished
v.tE rs sane degree O: -ap!dity and
q - sane cost as = more efficient
-zc..1=-: co2s:!:Gr%d Inc plan; equip
<7:.sia.ioo charges % plan, equip
me-: s7o-.c - gwen careful! con
sheraton r-,c- - :E@ pu-chas. OF ma.
cf---s &C accessories as We! as in
- -a-: 49,: .a:t.ot he cos; OF nigh
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