Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-04
READERS VIEWPOINT
Letters TO the Editor on
Current Topics
In Defense Of Maeadam Roads

To the Editor Of the Evening Pubic Ledger:
Sir-George Nox McCain's article in
the EVENING PUBLIC LEDGER OF April
"a. describing the present situation with
regard to the highway program in
Pennsylvania, brings out a number of
points to which the general public, and
more especially the road-using public,
have probably given little thought.
The movement of heavily laden trucks
throughout the year in and near our
large centers of population, especially
when the earth support Of the roads has
been made unstable by frost and nois-
ture, requires our roads and streets to
render service under conditions that are
probably more severe than any other
type of engineering structure used by
the public. The astonishing change in
the amount and weight OF traffic on
come OF our principal highways has
thoroughly demonstrated that the best
and strongest paving structure that can
be built within reasonable cost limits Is
none too good for the purpose. From
this II follows that the cost of such
pavements will necessarily appear high
II Judged by the number of dollars and
cents that are required TO produce
them
ON the other hand, II is equally true
that casual reading of Mr. McCain's
account OF his interview with state
Highway Commissioner Sadler may lead
to tho formation of some erroneous con-
clusions, notably that solid concrete"
Is the only type of durable road which
can be built today. Reference Is made
repeatedly TO the damage wrought 10
the Lincoln highway between Philadel-
phla and Trenton, and this road is
failure and poor economy of the old
| types of construction. II Is undoubtedly
a fact that the road in question Is a
| striking example of those referred 10
as requiring the best and strongest pave
| ment that can be built. carrying. as II
docs, in point of either weight or number
| of vehicles q more severe traffic than q
great many city streets
Mr.. McCains article says of this
road "It is a part OF tho original Lin.
| coin highway. 1t was constructed or
! the old concrete base principle of road
| building" AS n matter of fact. this
road was an old, marrow and badly
worn macadam road. which wat
J strengthened by the state Highway De,
| partment In 1918 by resurfacing with
crushed stone (macadam). a shor'
sectlcn only. was rebuilt lately oi
asphalt and brick on concrete base or
account of relocation necessitated by
| some railroad changes.
To describe as being Of the con.
crete base" or composite" type, an ole
macadam road which was not even an
excellent example OF its class, ant
| which in many places Is 30 narrow that
| surface for the bermS or bitches whicr
| are necessary to keep the water away
| from the road and preserve reasonably
| dry foundation. 10 clearly inaccurate
and hardly fair to the typo mentioned
| The concrete base type" would include
every kind OF pavement, including sheet
asphalt, granite block or vitrified brick
| laid OH concrete foundation and used
| today In the largest communities in tn,
| country as the prevailing types of city
| paVements. These types are still re.
| Rarded as standard for heavy traffic
| purposes and there is nothing to in.
| dicate that there Is any likelihood OF
| their being displaced from this posi-.
| ton.
AS regards the failure OF the
macadam pavement on tho Philadel
phla-Trenton road, it is doubtful
whether anything else could properly he
expected considering the aggravated
conditions of heavy traffic, narrowness