The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1920-12-23
HIRST DELIVERS ADDRESS AT
CAPITAL CITY

relating TO highway CONSTRUCTOR
were laid down and vigorously main
tanned in an address delivered this
evening by Chief Engineer A. r.
Hirst of the Wisconsin Highway Conn.,
mission before the annual meeting of
American Association of State High
way Officials on Relative Service
Value of Different Types of Rural
Pavements." Mr.. Hirst's first pro-
position was that the states must
adopt uniform standards for the loads
to be borne by roads of different
classes of Importance. The con-
demnation of American Highway En-
gineers, he said, for having built
roads which did not stand up under
the intense motor truck traffic of re-
cent years was as unreasonable as
it would be to condemn railroad en-
gineering for the failure of bridges
under 20O-tbn locomotives, which
were built for 20-ton engines. ut
wou.d seem that it might be clear
to even the feeblest minded that it
is not going to be possible for We
hic1e designers to turn loose upon
highway any outfit their in
genuity may design, when they feel
like doing so. 1t isn't possible to
reconstruct highway syster of Am
erica every few months"
His second proposition was that
the almost total disregard in Amer
lean highway construction of the
comfort, convenience and economy
of the travelling public during con-
struction or maintenance was to
be severely condemned. A public
, be-damned" policy he said has been
carried out. The travelling public
has been looked upon as an interloper
with no possible business but to foot
the bills. The traveller has been
forced into unmarked detours which
have impaired his vehicle, his clothes
and his religion, and brought enor-
NOUS economic loss.
A third proposition was that in
weighing the merits of two or more
types of pavement, the factor Of in
terest on the original investment
should enter it. The assumption
that public money when once spent
is gone, and that the public should
demand no return upon it's investment
is wrong.
A fourth proposition was that in
designing pavements width must be
considered a factor in length of SER
vice. We have been designing pave
ments of too narrow width, and have
thus multiplied our troubles. "The
conduct of all pavements, especially
of those that are called inferior pave
ments, such as water bound maca-
dums, gravels and the lesser nom
rigid types is good or bad in almost
absolutely direct proposition to their
width" The superiority under ira
fife of the Macadam highways in Eng
land and France has been due largely,
Mr.. Hirst believes to the greater
width of pavement and the conse-
quent distribution of traffic.
Another of Mr.. Hirst's propositions
was that: "Any discussion of the SER
vice value of any type of pavement
has no basis unless the assumption is
made that good maintenance protects
the pavement and gives it a chance
to serve.
Mr.. Hirst's final and most import
ant proposition was that: ''The road
problem of America is not to be built
a few boulevards, but to build, main
tain and keep always open trans
portation system" This was strongly
maintained by the speaker because
as he said the theorists and school
men held to the contrary.
70 illustrate this proposition, Mr..
Hirst took the case of a certain coun-
ty in his own state. This county he
said has 200 miles of road of the
highest Importance; 200 miles of
secondary highways, important from
the county standpoint, and 400 miles,
of strictly local highways, cared for
by the local units of government.
Outside of the funds which can be
made available for the general MAIN
tenance of this 800 miles of highway
it can beforseen that in the next five
years the total funds available for
highways improvements in this
county will be four million dollars.
Of the 200 miles of first class high
way SO miles have been surfaced in
the past, and are still maintainable;
$50 miles are of earth without hope
of redemption. Of the 200 miles Of
less Importance 20 miles have been
surfaced and $50 miles are earth.
Traffic conditions are at present in
tolerate in the county. Each rain
means a blockade; each spring and
rainy season an absolute cessation of
traffic, except by team and that ira
fife is almost blocked.
The four millions dollars available
In the five wears will If iS estimated