Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-03-13

parsons. The Iowa Engineering En-
pertinent Station at Ames has pub
lished the following report of its re-
searches:
"Tractive resistance figures for
fuel consumption indicate that the.
average ton-miles obtained per gal
Ion are: Earth roads. IA ton miles:
Gravel road, 81 ton-milcs; Concrete
road. 81 tonmiles.
AT "a cents a gallon for gasoline
this average would give the follow
ing cost per toni mile: Earth
road, I'll cents: Gravel road, 1.l5
cents: Concrete road, - cents.
",:-ciehing stations were ostab-
lishcd on important trade routes and
average weights for each general
type of vehicle fixed: Horse drawn
passengers. GIL pounds: Horse
drawn freight. 1925 pounds: Pas
senger automobiles, 2.69l pounds;
Motor driven freight. o,720 pounds.
Applying these weights to various
types OF vehicles using 4 given road
gives the daily average tonnage
Aprlying to this tonnage the cost of
gasoline per ton miles on this Speci-
fic type of surface gives data show
ing the economic advantage of pay
ing. \ specific instance was taken
in a road leading from Ames as n
link of the Lincoln Highway. 1t
was a. gravel road.
"The daily average traffic was 90f
vehicles. Daily average tonnage l.
go Cost per ton-milc of fuel, on
gravel, lis cents, on concrete 80 OF Il
cent. If the road were paved the
possible saving would amount to .3S
Of Il cent per mile on gasoline
alone.
"This saving when applied to the
daily average tonnage of 1.232 tons
gives an average daily saving to mo-
torists of $4.1S on every mile. In
year this saving per mile to motor
lists equals $l.146.
From such authoritative figures
many motor clubs haze drawn their
ammunition for the campaign to
meet the nations needs for more
hard surfaced highways. BY eX-
planning to motorists that in paying
an additional tax for gasoline they
are investing in paved roads which
will return Immediate dividends.
they are bringing the matter before
the automobile owner in most
favorab light.
"Only one series of fuel consump-
ton runs was made on asphaltiC
pavements. owing to the fact that
there are no asphaltic paved high
ways outside OF the cities in Iowa.
On this particular series relative
, fuel consumption was I'D.
! This. however. is not considered
as conclusive information.
yielding Road Surfaces Add $500,
100000 to Annual U. S. Auto Bill"
THAT there is more than a mere
desire for comfort and safety back
OF the enthusiastic support given
paved roads is proved by recent
highway tests conducted in several
states.
"Ohicials of road departments and
university experiment stations found
that an automobile would gain ap-
proXimateiy an entire years life if
it could always run on permanent
highway surfaces.
Estimates made in Iowa as re-
suit of series of tests form the
basis for interesting economic COM
/ parsons.
Total motor vehicle registration
in the United States for 1872 was
approximately $12oUO.0oO.
THE average life of a car has
been placed at five years by motor
and highway experts.
IF the Iowa tests hold true. as
they undoubtedly do. for all sec
e'Oiio " tiS sohiiti '. tiiC actual SttN =
ing would represent the difference
between replacement costs every six
| years and every five.
America buys 100000 new mo-
tor vehicles every year. This is
| based on complete replacement
each five years. If a wear is added
to the life of the automobile by
| paved roads. the total is cut to y, :
OO0.tWO vehicles purchased annually.
AS much of this replacement is
! in the form of exchanges for old
models the average cost has been
set at $500. Hence the present re-
| placement bill equals the huge sum
| of S1.92O. 100000
year with his old model the pooled
. saving would show approximately
2OOOO.WO on the credit side of
| the national ledger.
"A comparatively small mileage
| of the nations roads are perma-
| nently paved and these figures can
not obtain so long as gravel, dirt
or other non-enduring surfaces eX-.
| list.
1T il for this reason that some
| communities are agitating a gaso-
| line tax TO provide highway con-
| struction funds. Advocates of such
a measure base their claims on the
| evident saving to the motOrist with
! its immediate reflection upon the
prosperity of the community. They
show that car will gain one-thira
more mileage to the gallon on paved
| roads. ctfecting a saving at this
point, in addition to the life of the
! car" argument-and close with
statistics to show the general re-
! juvenating effect upon trade in
/ counties adequately provided with
! paved roads.
1.-THE annual saving of $3.50 600. =
! 700 made possible by complete
system of paved roads throughout
America is equivalent to the con-
struction costs of more than 10000
miles of standard concrete highway.
! Divided equitably among the states
1t means that each state could build
2OO miles of modern highway each
year and the motorists still would
be ahead financially.
! 1.-THE pay for the roads in cost
of-car savings and maintain them
with the reduced cost on gasoline.
The dividends are safety, comfort.
convenience and economy"