South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-12-26
Maintenance Division Would
Eliminate Bad Curves
and Other Dangers.

4 INDIANAPOLIS Dec. 25.-Ellmi-
+ nation OF road hazards. whlch con-
tri5uted 10 some OF the 146 reported
/ accidents and Is deaths on state
highways during seven months OF
T the last fiscal year was a feature OF
7 the work OF the maintenance divis-
/ ion OF the state highway depart
ment. according TO the annual re-
port Of A. II. Hinkle. chief mainte-
nance engineer, submitted 20 the
state highway commission.
While fast driving by motorists
was the contributing cause OF 105
OF the reported accidents. the fact
that sharp curves and other road
conditions led TO some OF the dis
+ asters, resulted in the concerted
drive by the maintenance division
TO make all state roads as safe as
possible for al kinds OF traffic.
The accident reports cover only
the period from March TO Sept
81. and show the following causes
OF accidents: Collisions with other
machines. 80; railroad trains. A.;
culvert and walls. Z; telephone
poles Z; domestic animals stEying
on roads. 2. and narrow bridges.
Deserve Much Study.
Although these direct causes Of
& the accidents were reported. the con-
/ tributng causes were az follows
Fast driving. 1O5, sharp curves
80; obstructed view, S; lack Of guard
rail. s; wet surface. 8 deep ditch.
g. intoxication. 10; glaring head
lights, s; narrow roadway. Z. and
miscellaneous causes, %.
cone needs but 10 read the acct
dent reports" says Mr.. Hinkles re-
port. Ito be convinced that much
study should be given to the prob
lem Of making our highways safer
ia the development Of a state high
way system. To this end the follow
| ing classes Of work are being carried
on as fast as funds are available:
Narrow roadbeds are being wild
ened 10 the standard width Of IS
feet. This work progresses slowly,
since 1t requires the moving OF
fences and telephone poles in most
places. The local land owners are
approaching more and more the
need Of widening roadbeds and in
many cases cooperating by moving
the fences back that this work may
be done.
Reducing Curves.
Sharp curves are being reduced.
Since this, however. frequently re-
quires a new location of the road
and an entirely new roadbed, we
I can only accomplish certain amounts
/ Of this work each year with the
limited funds available.
Short culverts are being extended
as rapidly as possible TO conform
with the wider rOadbed. Many OF
| the old narrow culverts and small
| bridges have their ratings battered
up BY machines. showing the neces-
I sity for a longer culvert.
White washing is done on the
distractions close TO the travelled
way which cannot be moved back
at present Danger warning signs
are erected about 500 feet back
from the danger zone where sharp
curves, steep grades and INSTRUCTED
views are sources of danger and
can not be conveniently moved
The magnitude OF the work of the
maintenance division in keeping in
repair the state highway system, is
shown by the fact that on Sept. so.
the system included 3.706.59 miles
of various types of roads.
Large Force Required.
For the maintenance work on the
state system, at the close of the ifs
i T.-,v-
ed. District engineers, SIN; superin-
tendents. 81: foremen. 46; patrol
men, 227; mechanics. Sc. and labor
ers. approximately 5000.
Statistics OF the maintenance di-
vision show the following work done
during the year: Miles Of earth road
coated with stone, So; miles of earth
road coated with gravel, ISIS; miles
OF old gravel road rebuilt as good as
gravel road. 167; miles OF old gravel
road rebuilt as good stone road. 81;
miles OF old stone road rebuilt as
good gravel ROAD, as: miles of old
stone road rebuilt as good stone
road. 129. and miles Of road given
heavy grading. 232.
Total expenditures Of the mainte-
nance division, as shown 10y the re-
port. amounted TO S2,466. O09.54.
The report shows, however, that
about So Is percent Of the total
expenditures were for purely con-
struction purposes and should rot
be counted as maintenance
charge
Traffic Increasing.
4 u
bles showing the amount of money