Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-05-14
GES.|MMED|ATE
D. c. ROAD REPAIRS
BY YM0DERN SYSTEM
NJ. 0. EIdridge Suggests
Adoption of Motorized Gang
Syetem of Maintenance.

Syetem of Maintenance.
"Roadways are like teeth-when-
ever cavity is discovered fill it at
once" said NJ. o. Eldridge. director
of roads of the American Automobile
Association. when asked today what
he considered the most practical
method to keep roadways UP to
standard.
Il am a strong advocate of the
motorized gang system of mafnte-
nance. Six men to the gang. with
truck and tools ready to check the
slightest break in any part of the
There is difference between the
patrol system and the gang system
the latter does better bituminous
work
"All main roads in the District
should be paved from street to state
lines. For instance. Wisconsin ave-
nue.. from Tenleytown to the Mont
gomery county line. and the Bladens-
burg road. from 18th land H streets
northeast to the Maryland line. Traf-
fic is just as concentrated on these
avenue.
Asked to what he attributed the
poor condition Of the roads in the
District. Mr.. Eldridge replied:
Lack of sufficient appropriations
from Congress to establish gangs of
and lay pavements.
THE primitive methods followed In
the District today are disgrace.
Within the past two weeks coal Gin
nf
have been utilized to build and re-
pair important roads.
ut is not the fault of the District
Commissioners. nor of Supt. Gfabill.
They are doing all in their power to
better conditions. The fault lies en-
ing adequate funds to carry on the
work.
The District has benefited little
by the fight put up by Senator Smith
and Representatives Mudd. Zihlman
and johnson of Maryland in their
campaign for better roads In Mary
land.
Mr.. Mudd, after being turned down
by the House committee. carried the
fight to the floor of the House and
finally succeeded In securing appro-
priations for the paving of Bladens-
burg road. and Senator smith did
likewise in regard to Connecticut
avenue, where enough was obtained
to pave one side Of Connecticut ave-
nue. for two-way traffic until more
money is available. Wisconsin,, Geor-
gia and Alaska avenues are just as
important. but nothing has been done
for them"
Statement by e. w. James.
When approached on tho subject
e. w. James. assistant chief engi-
neer of public roads. Agricultural De-
partment, said: Public road mainte-
nance all over the country is at pres
ant in the slough Of despond.
Constant minor repairing by ex-
perienced workmen supplied with
proper TOOLS" said Mr.. James. "is un-
doubtedly the solution Of the problem,
But where Is labor to be found?
Fright now there is an opportunity
for 500 trained patrolmen to work on
than three or four hundred men are
available for experimental work, and
these only to be picked up here and
there. with prevailing high wages
for labor of every description 1t is
almost impossible to secure men to
carry a bucket Of tar.
'.The roads in the District are in
shocking condition, but they do not
come under the jurisdiction OF this
bureau. We have a Few experimental
roads near the city and they are In
very good shape.
with ever-increasing traffic all
over the country roads should have
constant attention. Maintenance OF
public highways Is one of the most
problems confronting the
country today.
However, agree with the Dis
trict Commissioners that it is false
economy to keep repairing roads that
xuyifh pa n hot
1t would be cheaper in the end to
new roadways altogether.
Roads should never be allowed to
reach such condition.
French System of Upkeep,
When asked about the French sys-
TEN of road upkeep. Mr.. James said:
1T has taken France centuries to
develop her groups of labor, or can
tonierre' It is business over there,
and not unusual for four or five gen.
erations of the same family to fol-
low the calling. The 'cantonierre' is
equivalent to our patrolmen, but in
France they know nothing else and
are trained in road maintenance from
hence the magnificent high
ways to he found in that country.
Such a system Is impossible here.
where 1t is difficult to get man to
stick to the job year.
WIN the mliiIOHS lHdI are 10 DO
spent on road construction in the next
few years." said Mr.. James in con-
clusion. "it is impossible to give too
much attention to the all-important
factor of road maintenance"
statiatics of District Roads.
Statistics show that in the District
there are 167 miles of asphalt, twen-
ty-one miles of asphalt block. twenty
two miles Of granite block. seven
miles of cement concrete, seven miles
Of bituminous concrete. 123 miles Of
macadem and 153 miles Of
gravel and dirt roads.
The opinion prevailing among experts
in road construction is that practically
all Of the 276 miles Of bituminous
macadam and gravel and dirt roads
should be paved as good as city streets,
because per foot Of width they carry as
much traffic as city streets.
1t also is claimed that most all of the
twenty-five miles of granite block pave
ment should be taken up and relaid
filler, or replaced with sheet asphalt or
some other smooth durable type Of
pavement.
An example Of this Is 14th street, go
ing south from Pennsylvania avenue to
the end Of Long bridge, much Of which
is old granite block pavement. rough and
unsatisfactory for the main road to and
from the south.
This road has been in its present con-
dition for over fifteen years, and the
value OF horses destroyed on account of
to these conditions would more than re-
pay for a properly built roadway.
1t Is estimated that the motorists Of
the District contribute approximately