The Monmouth inquirer., 1924-12-11
DETERMINE EXPENSE
OF ROAD BUILDING

Too often, when road improvements
are contemplated, first cost is the only
item considered. There are other
items which must be taken into con-
sideration before deciding the type Of
road to be built. The amount and
character of the traffic which may rea-
sonably be expected to pass over the
road during its lifetime should be de-
termined as near as possible so the
life of the pavement may be estimated.
If more than 500 vehicles a day travel
a road, it should be paved; between
800 and 100 vehicles per day, a grav-
eled road will serve Less than 100
vehicles a day can be most cheaply
served by dirt roads. The entire
maintenance cost during the life of
pavement plus the first cost will deter
mine the actual cost of the improve
ment. This. divided by the number Of
years the pavement will last, will be
the true guide which will point out the
most economical type of paving.
Because of its low maintenance cost
and its long life, concrete is an eco
nomical type The high maintenance
costs of the old style pavement viii
make its actual yearly cost far more
than that of a concrete pavement.
There are certain items of main
tenance common to all roads, whether
improved or unimproved Cutting
weeds, cleaning bitches, repairs TO
shoulders, guard rails and similar
items are to be expected in maintain
ing all types of road construction
The maintenance Of the wearing
surface Of the road, however, will
vary the type Of road built In paved,
hard-surfaced roads such as concrete,
this item of maintenance is almost a
negligible factor, and the items com
mon to all roads are those which
make up the bulk Of the cost.
In the old style improved" roads,
however, the maintenance of the sur
face is by far the most important item.
Modern traffic tears up the old style
road and continually neeessitates large
expenditures to repair the wearing
surface and keep it in passable con-
dition. With such a surface the I'M
ayoidable items of maintenance fade
into insignificance before the vast
sums expended to maintain its sur
face.
The savings in maintenance costs on
a concrete road will soon pay the diff
ference in first cost and will actually
save money every year thereafter for
the community 1t is the poorest kind
Of economy to build roads that wear
out in a few years The staggering
maintenance costs that pile Up with
this type of construction viii soon
lead community into financial diff
culties. Especially is this true when
such construction is paid for by bond
issues maturing many years hence.
The only method of reducing main
tenance costs is to build the roads in
such way that they will have per-
manency and low cost of upkeep.
What is said to be the longest
straightaway of concrete is the 50
miles between Anoka and Belle
Prairie, Mimi While this is not the
longest stretch of paved roads in ex-
istence it is the longest Of one pave
ment type. and gives an insight into
the concrete paving program that is
being carried on in all parts of the
country.
For many years California led all
other states in this type Of paving.
In recent years, however, the Middle
West has come into the good roads
limelight with Illinois in the lead and
voting at the coming election on an
other issue of S1O0,OO0,0OO. The East
which started its program only few
years after California began building
concrete is progressing in good shape.
New York and Pennsylvania are the
two leaders in this section. Pennsyl-
vania passed a $50,OO0,O00 road bond
issue in 1918 and last year another
S50,OO0.OO0 road bond issue was
passed. and is to be invested as vas
the one previously Aside from the
expenditure of these road bond issues,
PENNSYLVANIA annually expends about
/ ST.. 10000 on her roads from current
revenues collected through automobile
license taxes and fees and gasoline
tax
In the South, North Carolina Is the
leading road building state. Hun
dreds of miles are being built annually
to connect the rich farming lands of
this section with the trade centers,
and also to provide tourist routes to
the mountain resorts In the eastern
| part of the state.