Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-03-21
PUBLIC OPINION
CONDITION OF THE ROADS

S@1D
EDITOR EVENING NEWS:
Now that the state road commits
sion is settled, may it be out of place
for n who has watched the various
roads in this vicinity during the win
ter, to make a few remarks?
Please do not understand me as
blaming the various contractors for
the bad condition of many OF the
roads built within the past four years
to my knowledge.
The specifications are drawn up by
1.-The various engineers. The contrac-
tor bids on these specifications. An
inspector is appointed by county,
state, town or city. This inspectof
lis supposed to see that the spelifica-
tons are fulfilled. Now who are
these inspectors? Usually some one
with a political pull. On several
jobs on which my machinery has
worked, the inspectors were men
who knew absolutely nothing about
road building. On one job in your
own city, the inspector was an elder
ly man. After the grading had been
under way for several days he told
me that he had not the least idea
what the specifications called for,
and it was about one week before
he had a copy % post himself with.
Now, this pavement has stood for
two winters and in driving over 1t
yesterday 1 could not help but rote
how good it has stood up. AS it hap
pened, the contractors We're cousci-
entious and the result is you nave
of the best p~aveElents in your
city.
Now a few words regarding con-
crete VS.. patent top on concrete.
The new u off on Lincoln be-
tween Lincoln School and Lehlgh
Valley station, Metuchen, has been
down three winters. This is a con-
crete section, under the Pennsylva-
mia railroad bridge. 1t was SO wet
while digging that at times a team
could only have one-half a yard at
a load. The only crack in this Sec
ton is on n side of the railroad
bridge near a drop that was
put in after the oaG was built. This
road from Lehigh station to an I'M
der the bridge was drained on both
sides and also toward the school
house.
The contractors are compelled to
put up a bond to keep the road they
build up for five years. This aver
ages about one and one-half per
cent of the contract price. Although
he is supposed to build according to
specifications, under an inspector
hired by the state or county.
If the writer should build you a
house under specifications he would
not be asked to guarantee that it
would stand even one day after it
was accepted.
The one and one-half per cent, OF
course, must be added to the con-
tractors bid or he will be in a hole
A few words regarding the cut off
at Spa Springs, within the writer's
memory, the old road was no only
macadamed, but a Telford base was
placed under the macadam.
Mayhap some of your readers do
not know what this means. This
road was graded low and large
stones were put down edgewise and
then rolled and rolled before the
macadam was placed.
The writer does not know what
condition the road was in when the
present asphalt top was put on, but
no doubt the old Telford was left in
place. Every one knows the con
dition that that road was in last year
and in many places 10 it has holes
in it.
What will happen to the new cut
off if paved this year on top of the
clay filling? The section across the
fill should stand at least a couple OF
years before the top is put on. Ii
not it will not be worth a d-n.
There is no finer road in this sec
ton than the concrete section of Lin
coin Highway from Pennsylvania
railroad bridge in Railway up to the
other sections. This has been down
two winters and is a good as the
first day it was opened. and there is
no place in the state with a heavier
traffic.
Why not use past experience for
future work, and save money for
the state, county or city.
Very truly yours,
w. Il. OSBURN.