Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1921-06-29
NOT ONE BESTTYPE.
OF HARD HIGHWAY.
Tom M'Donald Chief of the Bureau
OF Public Roads Warns States
Againstl Adoption of
Patented Materials.
SUCH A COURSE COSTLY
AND MOST UNFORTUNATE
Highways Should be Improved With
Materials Near at Hand and
Constructed to Meet Their
Particular Traffic
Needs.

Washington, D. C.-Opposition t.
the tendency that is developing in
some states to pass legislation gov.
erning conditions of bond issues and
specifying one type of material to be
used in highway construction was
voiced here today by Tom H. Mac
Donald, chief of the bureau of pub
lie roads, and formerly of the Iowa
highway commission. Such course
he says, is unfortunate and costly
and he urges open competition for all
materials and more careful consider
alton of cost and local conditions
affecting construction before the
type of pavement is definitely decid-
ed upon.
Mr.. Macdonald argues that there
is no one best kind of type of road
bed.
Granting that the preparation of
the roadbed has been properly done,"
he said, "many kinds of road surface
will give excellent service. The ele-
ment of time is important. There are
so many miles Of roads to be con-
structed 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 low
est possible cost, roads which will
give satisfactory service and which
can be maintained without undue de-
probation under the traffic which is
to use them.
Not One Best Kind
"Many times the question has been
asked the bureau of public roads:
What type of road is best? The an
swer is always the same. There is
not ore best kind or type of load
surface. A recent statement issued
by the bureau expresses this thought
in the following language:
1t is the policy of this bureau to
consider the conditions on each midi
vidyal federal aid project, as there
are elements such as subgrade,
drainage and present and prospective
trafic, which vitality affects the de-
termination of the standards of con
stuction to be used. X
"That is, there must be a careful
analysis both of the engineering and
economic conditions for each partic-
aIlar case to determine the kinds OF
materials. that can be used success
fully, and after these facts are de-
termined then the various types OF
construction which can be used eco
omically should be brought into
competition to secure the best pos
sible results.
There have been occasional at
tempts to write into state laws OF
the governing conditions of bond is
sues a requirement as to the type Of
kind of roads to be constructed. IL
follow such a course would be mos
unfortunate. The cost must always
he considered in determining tht
types of road surfaces which are Sc
lected and the allowable cost mus
be determined by the traffic which
is to be borne. Local conditions var!
70 such an extent that very careful
consideration must be given eacl
project before determining the char
acter or type Of roads to be built
This principle was recently ex
messed to a chamber Of commerce
asking for information, in the follow
ing language:
Types Should be Avoided
!" Types of highways should no
be specified by law This is matte
TO be decided by the state highwa.
department, in which should b.
lodged full authority both to con
struct and to maintain. Competition
between different types of materia
should be maintained and selection
made to fit traffic requirements il
each case. The Bureau Of Publ
Roads does not lecommend any on
TYNE TO the exclusion of others
Good road legislation, suggested il
the bill adpnced by Representative
Dowell, ofthe Seventh Iowa district
and Seneor Townsend, of Michigan
on whiA the views of numerous in
torast and road users have beer
haa,a, will soon be presented to con
orss for passage. The Dowell meas
ere, which gives the federal govern
.nent the privilege of approving al
highways before actual work ha'
been started on them, is likely to b'
enacted into law, as it gives the STATE
high way commissions ample author
ity to handle the road questions il
their states, and pledges the fedora
government to heartily cooperate il
financing new highways and other
wise assisting in improving the traf
fic lanes of the nation.