The Washington times., 1919-11-06
URGE ASPHALT
FOR HIGHWAYS
o. E. Engineering Experts Say
II Is Most Durable and Eco
nomicaI in Long Run.
BY BILL PRICE.

Colonel Kutz, Engineer Commits
lsioner OF. the District, and virtually
all OF his engineer and other subor-
dinates experienced in rosdbuilding,
lean strongly to asphalt paving for
streets and roadways in the next
fiscal year. as not only the most dur
able. but in the end the most econo-
1nical to taxpayers, who must foot the
bills.
The estimates that will be submit
ted to Congress for District appro-
priations for the fiscal year beginning
July I. 1920, will net be made public
until turned over to Congress in De-
cember. but IL is possible to say now
that In the estimates prepared by the
Commissioners there is strong
leaning TO asphalt streets and road
Ways as against concrete and ma
cadam-
This Is due to the fact that the En-
gineer Commissioner and his subordi-
mates have made careful calcula-
lions upon costs per square yard Of
these three classes of paving and are
strongly OF the opinion that while the
frst cost Of asphalt is somewhat
greater than that OF concrete, II has
every assurance Of q much longer
Hfe. not to consider many other ad-
vantayes which are appreciated by
taxpayers and the general public.
OF wide I.terest.
This matter is of wide interest and
Importance; for under the unjust
Boriand Law, property owners are
compelled to pay half the cost of
street and roadway construction in
the District
With this in mind, the Engineer
Commissioner wants to see that both
the District and the taxpayers get
the best and most for their money.
IN the final analysis the taxpayers
furnish all the money for these street
Improvements. inasmuch as the ap-
preparations made by Congree for the
improvements are out of District
funds. while the other half Is as
ssssed against property owners sup
posed TO be directly benefited by the
Improvements.
Contracts let for street paving for
the present fiscal year, some OF which
have been completed, were on a basis
OF S296 per square yard for asphalt.
S2-35 for concrete, and s1.6S for
macadan-.s
The Engineer Department knows
something of the life of asphalt and
ssays that it has an assured life of
about twenty-five years, with repairs
less frequent and costly than either
concrete or macsdam. Concrete. which
has been coming into use more gen.
eraiiy in recent years for roadway
building, is still regarded as some
what IN experimental stages, so far
as long life is concerned.
Maryland Fnvors Conerete.
The Maryland roadways commits
sion is turning 10 concrete as against
rnacadam. having found during the
war period that macadam roadways
were simply crushed to pieces where
the traffic OF heavy motor trucks was
constant. The pike between here and
Baltimore was literally chopped to
pieces winter before last by the big
motor trucks running between the
two cities and TO and from military
In this city the asphalt streets. il is
said by engineer officials. stood UP
fine uTrde- the added burdens of
heavy trucks. although when origin
ally laid none of the. engineers had
ever calculated upon the activities
OF war OF upon the great Increase
in size and capacity of motor trucks.
which must now be estimated in all
fT.ure road building.
II In the opinion of the Districts
engineer officers that asphalt at
sos per square yard will be much
cheaper IN the long run than concrete
at s2-33. experience having demonstrat-
ed that its life is much longer
Previous experiences of these officials
with concrete roadways is that there
is no certainty OF getting just the
right mixture Of cement, sand, and
grave so that all portions of a road
way will hold up alike. There will
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