Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-03-16

SARGENT Talks on
Highway Problems
to Bangor G.. of G.
The change In highway construc-
ton and maintenance methods In the
past rs years. from tbs old days OF
the neighborhood picnic when tax
payers worked out their taxes on
the highway until today when the
construction Of highways is a real
art based on the science Of engin-
eering, was discussed by Paul ..
Sargent, chief engineer Of tho State
Highway Commission. in IN addreSs
Thursday noon before the Bangor
Chamber of Commerce. -
As an indication of this change.
the speaker stated that q careful
census, undertaken by the Advisory
Board on Highway Research OF the
National Research Council, disclosed
that there were in progress in the
United States in December. 1922. 4S6
research projects In highway engin-
eering and highway transport. Two
hundred and sixty-seven of these
projects were investigations OF ma
terials, but there were listed So
studies on economics. Is on opera
ton, 119 on road design. seven on
vehicle design, and II on construc-
ton.
These Investigations were being
carried on by the testing engineers
and chemists, both of the state high
way departments and of the FEEDER
al Bureau Of Public Roads. both in
laboratory and in field tests and ex-
periments. Many material rnanufac-
turers also have trained investiga-
49,. I1ivS ~ ,cfs CT
ing the question Of improving ma
tcrials to be used in highway con-
struction. or machinery and appar-
atus to be used in the construction
and maintenance of highways.
The speaker also stated that since
the passage Of the first Federal Aid
act in 1916. 1921 miles Of Federal
aid roads had been completed up to
November 80. 1922. by the state high
way departments. the Federal Gov
eminent and the American contrac-
tors. This would be equivalent to
building an improved road entirely
around the world.
Referring to the road problem in
Maine. Mr.. Sargent pointed ont that
provision had been made for the
construction of a system of State
highways and system of State aid
highways, these two systems COM
bned comprising about eighteen per
cent of the entire road mileage OF
the State. During the last four years
the State has been granting assist
ance in the improvement of the third
class or town roads and bill now
before the legislature. with excellent
chances OF being passed. provides
that assistance for the latter class Of
roads shall be increased to about
four times the present appropria-
ton.
Mr.. Sargent devoted considerable
time to the question of proper main
tenance of the roads which have all
ready been improved by State and
town moneys. During the last ten
years the investment in State and
State aid highways has totalled
improved road is considerable in ey-
cess Of 1000 miles, and the statement
was made that If the State could
only afford to carry on one road &C.
tivity. in tho speakers Judgment II
should be that Of maintaining and
protecting this investment.
Some figures were given to show
that as traffic increases maintenance
costs per mile increase very rapidly
For example. on the state highway
between Bangor and Waterville, av-
erage maintenance costs per mile
from 1916 to 1922 have increased
from s120S9 in 1916 to s1476.37 in
1922, while the average traffic which
this road carries in a 12-hour day
has increased as follows: In 1917 the
traffic was 265 vehicles and in 1922
1t was 756. Similar figures on High
way d." running from Woolwich to
Eockland, showed an increased MAIN
,1- in
1916 to sl35413 in 1929. while the
traffic increased from 375 in 1916 to
TS2 in 1922. Both Ct these roads are
gravel surfaced highways. they were
maintained with gravel surface to
the end OF 1920, in 1921. both roads
were given treatment OF calcium
chloride, and in 1922 they were given
n tar surface treatment. When traf-
fic gets to between 400 and 500 We
hicles per day the department has
found no way Of keeping gravel
surfaced highway smooth and salts
factory to tho travelling public with
out the application of some artificial
binder. This has been the experience
throughout the United States.
Maintenance costs were also refer
red to on the trunk highway which
carries the heaviest traffic, namely
tho road between, kittcry, Me-. and
Portland This road carries many
days in the summer between 5000 and
5000 in II hours and upon ito are
found all types Of construction used
by the state Highway Commission
The least expensive road the High
way has ever constructed, from the
point of maintenance, is two miles OF
bituminous macadem situated in the
town OF Wells, which was built IN
1914. The total cost OF constructing
this road was ,$22,4S11S. The total
maintenance cost in eight years has
been $1122.4O. slightly under five per
Cont Of the original cost Of the road
A section Of gravel road constructed
in Biddeford, 1.2 miles long. which
cost S46O7.77. has cost for mainten-
ance in the last eight years $927435
or oO1 per cent Of its original cost
The section OF bituminous road In
Wells has been good every day in
the year when 1t has not been cover
ed with snow, while at times each
spring the gravel road in Biddeford
ha; been impossible, and last spring
the Highway Commission kept teams
and men by night and by day at this
and other sections Of gravel road to
help traffic through.
This st ement is not made in dis
MiTi1h