Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-12-20

dictate necessity Tor Sub-dra1nage or
reinforcement of the foundation.
The exact condition must be deter
mined by an inspection. Frost boils
are removed by excavation and drain
age; any clavey soil or silt which
they contain should be removed and
replaced by gravel or stone.
On new waterbound macadam, and
gravel surfaces, or on roads over
which there is little motor traffic,
calcium chloride has been found eff
fective for surface maintenance.
This chemical has the power to draw
moisture from the air, and thus
keeps the surface from drying out.
Moisture is essential to the main
tenance of waterbound macadam.
Every such surface should have an oil
treatmnt after it has been in use for
time, and before it begins to dis
integrate.
Asphalt, Concrete, and Brick
Holes in asphalt surfaces are re-
paired by first cutting out the old
material from top to bottom, leaving
clean, vertical faces. These are
then swabbed or painted with hot as
phaltic cement or paving pitch, after
which the hole is filled with mix
ture similar to that used in the ORR
ginal construction, whenever possible
In emergencies, such holes may be
repaired with the mixture of crushed
stone and bituminous binder used as
cold patch on macadam surfaces.
Cracks and other minor defects in
concrete surfaces are properly treat
ed by hot paving pitch or asphalt
binder. Those of more serious ma
ture are repaired by the removal of
sections of the surface and replace
ment with new concrete.
Surfaces of brick or stone blocks
usually require very little repairing
for a number of years. Cracks
should be grouted with hot paving
pitch or asphalt binder. Areas that
settle should be taken up, the sand
cushion reformed, and the sound
blocks cleaned and relaid.
Gang and Patrols
Maintenance gangs, and patrols,
are the two methods most common
ly used to keep West Virginia state
roads in good shape. Each division
engineer handles the work according
to local conditions. A maintenance
gang consists of foreman and work
ers whose number varies according
to the season, number of miles to be
maintained, and quantity of work to
be done.
In every case, the forman must be
a man of considerable intelligence,
and with some training in road re-
pair work. While the gangs are re-
duced in size at the beginning of WIN
ter. capable foreman are employed
continuously throughout the year.
Labor shortage has been one OF the
maintenance problems in this state.
| Men are unwilling to take jobs which
they know are only for a part OF the
wear. when they can get steadler and
perhaps more lucrative employment
Encroachment on the right OF way
is difficulty that arises constantly.
In many places, buildings are founa
nroiecting far out on the space leg
ally reserved for the road. QUITE
often, this constitutes a serious IN
reference with drainage and other
maintenance work. 1t is also dan
eerous to traffic, because it narrows
the road, and if the encroaching build
ing is a store or other structure IN
front of which machines are frequent
" parked, the space open for tra11ic
is still further reduced.
Investment Must Be Protected
With the importance of roads IN
=
leaps and bounds, and the mileage OF
hard surfaced roads constantly grow
ing. maintenance work must become
steadier and more systematic. Inc
tremendous investment of the people
in good roads must be protected
Road maintenance is even now re-
cognized as one of the important oc-
equations, and in every short time IL
will take rank with the leading bulid-
ing ard mechanical trades. A pro-
perly trained maintenance man VIII
be able to command work anywhere
at top wages, just as the brickiayer
or plumber does today. q,
The ideal maintenance system VIII
be one which places the constant care
Of a certain mileage in the hands OF
,or+ai, number of trained men VINO