New-York tribune., 1921-06-05

Type l, including earth, sand
ciay/and gravel. .......... 32.2 1890
Type @ including water bound
and hituIninous macadam. 90 1880
Type 8, including brick, btu
fninous concrete, Portland
cement concrete ......,... ASS 1890
miscellaneous .............. 40 $40
Bridges Observation-Disclosures. 60
Total .....................1O 22.Oso
The states initiate the road projects,
but before Federal aid is granted an
engineer of the Federal Bureau of Pub
lie Roads makes an inspection of the
roads to be improved, studies the local
conditions, consults with the State
Highway Department, and no projects
are approved which are not considered
suited to the conditions to be met
Applies to Earth Roads, Too
Many popular fallacies exist as to
road Improvement and there have been
many misconceptions as to the types of
roads on which Federal aid funds may
be used. Properly built earth roads
are the fundamental requirement in all
highway Improvement. Regardless OF
the material or type of surfacng which
is to be placed, the preparation of the
road-bed requires the highest engi-
neering skill and experience. The de-
partment considers that the use of ade-
quate sums for the securing of proper
location, thorough drainage, permanent
bridges and culverts and the eimina-
tlon of railroad crossings is demanded
If enduring improvements are to re-
suit
Federal aid is allotted to the i'm
provement of earth roads but only
with the stipulation that suitable
surfacing will be placed as soon as
funds become available. This allows
the roadbed to be prepared md be-
come thoroughly consolidated Before
the surfacing is placed, which is mighty
desirable from construction view
point. To follow such course, how
ever is out of the question when q
road is heavily travelled and some form
OF surfacing must be provided.
Roadbed Must Be Right
To care for traffic under these con-
ditions frequently a sand-clay or gravel
surtaclng is provided which will serve
tor several years and yet allow the
road to be maintained under reason
ably heavy traffic. Granting that the
properly done, many kinds of road
surfaces will give excellent service.
The element of time is important.
There are so many miles OF roads to
be constructed and their cost will be
so enormous that the most careful and
detailed study of each road project
must be made to provide at the lowest
possible cost roads which will give
satisfactory service and which can be
maintained without undue depreciation
under the traffic which is to use them.
Many times the question has been
asked the bureau: What type of road
c hn ct ~, IL.
same: There is no one best kind or
type of road surface.
A recent statement issued by the
officials of the bureau expresses this
thought in the following language:
1T is the policy of this bureau to con-
slider the conditions on each Individual
Federal aid project, as there are ele-
ments such as subgrade, drainage and
present and prospective traffic which
vitality affect the determination Of the
standards of construction to be used"
That is, there must be a careful an
alysis both of the engineering and
economic conditions for each particu-
lar case to determine the kinds of
materials that can be used success
fully, and after these facts are deter
mined then the various types Of con-
struction which can be used economi-
caily should be brought into competi-
tion to secure the best possible results.
Opposed to One Type Road
There have been occasional attempts
to write into state laws cr the govern
ing conditions Of bond issues re-
quirement as to the type or kind of
roads to be constructed. To follow
such course would be most unfor-
tunate. The cost must always be con-
sidered in determining the type of
road surfaces which are selected and
the allowable cost must be determined
by the traffic which is to be borne.
Local conditions vary to such an ex-
tent that very careful consideration
must be given each project before de-
termining the character or type of
roads to be built.
This principle was recently expressed
to chamber of commerce asking for
information in the following language:
TYPES of highways should not be
specified by law. This is matter to
be decided by the State Highway De-
partment, in which should be lodged
full authority both to construct and to
maintain. Competition between differ
enr types of material should be main
tained and selection made to fit traffic
requirements in each case. The bureau
does not recommend any one type to
exclusion of Others"