The Washington herald., 1921-10-02
HIGHWAY PAVING
FIRST REQUISITE
Good Roads to Homes Devel-
op Suburban Real Estate
Markets.

Easy access to and from his
prospective home is the primary
requisite which the would-be pur-
chaser of real estate in suburban
territory demands In these days of
low cost motor traffic, the highway
or street is the outstanding feature
Of accessibility to suburban homes
and a highway is of use to the own
er of q motor vehicle only in pro-
portion to the quality of its pave
ment- No real estate development
in these days can fail to take into
account a comprehensive and prac-
ticable scheme of paving.
The types most favored, not only
for paved streets but for improved
roads, include not only the asphalt
tic types, but brick and macadam.
Brick is desirable, but more costly
than some types. Macadam is a sat
isfactory type when combined with
a bituminOus binder which makes
the road dustless and prevents
rayeling. Portland cement con-
crete is not resilient but it forms
an excellent foundation for the resi-
lient featurek When used with a
UItumInOus m.ler brick is semi-resi-
Hent. Asphalt surfaces have an
average life ranging from twenty to
twenty-five years and foundations.
il thus protected, should last not
less than thirty years. When a
foundation is covered with a shock
absorbing surface that receives the
frnpace of heavy traffic the base need
mot be so thick, thus affording a
material economy.
Investigation shows that during
the years 1915 to 1920 the price of
asphaltic paving materials increas-
ed sixty-five per cent, highway la
bor $50 per cent and other materials
from ninety to $50 per cent. Costs
q. ..,4 IsIUOr and materials are now
on the decline however, and there
is q strong reaction in favor of re-
duced freight rates. All of this, of
course, means cheaper streets.
Cost of the pavement in relation
IN The total cost of a real estate
development if. of course, a primary
FACTOR. Ii the total investment de-
mands a modest outlay for paving
IL is necessary to turn to those types
which meet modern requirements
and vet do not run into excessive
figures.
The long standard waterbound
macadam types of thoroughfares is
dusty and ravels quickly under fast
moving motor traf1c, but this type
Of pavement, made famous a CEN
tury ago by the practical minded
Scotchman, John Louden MacAdam,
is fundamentally sound and eco
nonical. provided it be made dust
less. This Is done very simply and
ar little more cost than by the old
macadam method, through the use
of binder according to what is
sno fra ~
This produces a pavement known as
asphalt macadam.
The economy over the old type is
effected through the elimination of
the sprinkling cart during construc-
tion, which offsets most of the ad-
ditionaI cost. in using asphalt to an
average of about twenty pounds to
the square yard, or 100 tons to the
mile of a sixteen-foot roadway. The
total additional cost for the mile of
roadway probably would not be
more than s2.500. The asphalt may
be applied by means of mechanical
distributors.
A form of construction immensely
popular on the Pacific Coast but
which has not as yet been introduce
ID very fully In the past is popular
IL known as black base" This
:ype comprises a mixture of asphalt
and crushed stone for the base or
as well as for the wear |
ing course or surface, thus provid-
ing an elastic. noiseless and wholly |
waterproof street or roadway for its
entire thickness. For real estate |
this type would be an |
deal one as in addition to its elias |
:ichy and its noiselessness IL Is alb
-
,ause il is impervious to moisture
and gives on no dust. II Is claim
ID. also, that those asphalts which |