Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1919-06-19
WHY SHOULD EXTRA
NOT PAVE RIGHT?

The paving question has taken
on a decidedly concrete appearance.
The Resolutions Of Necessity as
proposed does not contain specif-
cations for any other than concrete
pavement.
Remember--that the time to con-
slider this paving question is. now.
If you can honestly convince your
self that concrete pavement is the
thing for Extra you have yet to de-
eide whether the Resolution as pro-
posed is satisfactory.
The Resolution names a three
year guarantee--nearly any other
town in the world receives a five
year guarantee on any kind of
pavement.
Cement is notoriously expensive
to repair and upkeep. Why does
Extra have to lay cement that is
= I
guaranteed for three years only?
Ask yourself. Isn't Extras money
as good as other towns that we
have to give cement contractors the
absolute cinch with no opposition
and a guarantee that is only half
what it ought to be. Think this
over and see if it seems fair to the
town or citizens.
Some have heard that cement is
the only pavement to place on our
low roads to the depot--it is not.
In factit is the poorest selection
possible among the many kinds of
pavement--which may explain the
guarantee Of only three years.
Read this prominent engineers
article on concrete pavement--do
you think that he has lied or hidden
anything OF does it appeal to your
reason. Think of this little sketch
when some one talks of resurfacing
your concrete Immediately after
the three year guarantee runs out:
Theoretically it is possible to
lay a good concrete pavement but
practically is this true? Highway
and County Engineers are recon-
mending the construction of con-
crete pavements for County high
ways and light traffic streets.
In the first place it was the in
tention to produce a cheaper pave
ment in the construction Of pave
ment with the use of concrete only
and such result has assuredly
been achieved.
In this part of the country,
where we have a wide range o1
temperature the expansion and
contraction of the concrete is con
siderable and cracks in the pave.
ment are the result of temperature
stresses. Concrete also expands
with the absorption of water anc
actual tests have shown that the
expansion and contraction resulting
from the heat of the sun on very
warm day and the consequent cool
ing because Of sudden shower has
been compensated for by. the ex
padsion due to the absorption O
water. This rapid expansion anc
contraction impalrs the durability
of the pavement. 1t is self evident
that it is important to have a tor
surface both durable and water
proof to protect the foundation
You would not think of building
the foundation of a house and ther
decide to live in it without walls o.
roof, at least not in this part Of The
country.
Investigation at Des Moines, 10
wa will show that the only concrete
pavements, which have proven sat
isfactory are 10Th St., Grand Ave
to Woodland Ave and 9Th ST., Plea
SAINT St. to Chestnut St. Both o
these streets are light traffic streets
and both are two coarse pavement
consisting of a 81 inch concrete
foundation and an ID inch wear
ing surface Of granite clippings
The 10Th St. paving cost $1.69 pc
so. yd. at time when asphal