The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1924-02-07

TIME CONCRETE people had
their inning at the meeting of
the board of trade yesterday
and they made the most of it.
AS was the case last week when bit
ulthic went to bat, there was large
attendance, indicating a widespread
interest in the type of paving to be
used on the highway under construc-
ton between Mullan and Kellogg.
large delegation was present from
Kellogg. and many Wallace people
who seldom attend meetings of the
board were also there. President
Hull announced that the usual rou-
tine of business would be dispensed
with in order to give a hearing to
representative of the Portland Ce-
ment association in advocacy of con-
crete as a paving material on public
highways. He stated that two con-
crete representatives, were present
IF. II. Richardson, field representative
of the Portland Cement association;
and II. L. Hadley district engineer
and introduced Mr.. Richardson as
the spokesman.
Not Contracting company
Mr. Richardson proved to be an
effective advocate for concrete, and
at the close of his remarks respond
ed to numerous questions. He stated
in the beginning that the Portland
Cement association had no interest
in any contract other than to see
that the people who paid for it OBJ
itained a good job. The association
IS composed of a large number of ce-
ment companies, and its representa-
tives cooperate with contractors in
all manner of concrete work. The
rand increase in the use of automo-
biles during the past IS years has
developed new types of paving. In
the matter of paving, Mr.. Richardson
said that some people continue TO
nav for their own experience. wniie
others wisely profit by the expert
ience of others. He cited the road
building program of Illinois involV-
ing expenditure of $10O'OOOOOO- SIX
ty-three types of paving were tested
by running heavy tducks over them
until destroyed. The only types that
stood the test were concrete ranging
from 81 TO 8 inches thick, and black
TOP with a concrete base of equal
thickness. He said that in 1923 Hi
nois laid 1000 miles of concrete road
way. and had now purchased 4OOO'-
600 barrels of cement, which means
the construction of another 1000 miles
this year
No Crushed Rock Needed
Mr. Richardson especially empha-
sized that a crushed rock base for
concrete is not needed. In fact he
said if crushed rock is used it would
be an actual loss if concrete is laid
although an actual necessity for the
blacktop. He mentioned many states
where concrete had been adopted af-
ter various pavings had been tested,
and said that since the federal gov
eminent had been cooperating in
road construction 81 per cent of the
federal aid projects were concrete.
Even in oregon. which a few years
ago was strong for the blacktop'
he said, has now turned TO
concrete. He said that in 1921
26 per Get of the paving laid
bv the state was concrete; 66 per cent
i'm 1922 and 90 per cent in 1928, al
though he admitted that little paw
ing was laid by the state in those
years. He quoted the head of
large automobile stage company IN
California strongly favoring concrete
contending that there was less tire
wear and less gas consumed on con-
crete.
Bitulthic on Highways.
Mr.. Richardson conceded that the
bitulithic paving on Wallace streets
was excellent. which he attributed to
the superior foundation, but he con-
tended that there would be a differ
ent story on the highway. In the city
the speed of cars is less and they do
not follow in the same track. Traf-
fc covers the entire street, while on
the highway it would follow fixed
lines on each side of the paving and
cause ruts. The same paving on an
1S-foot roadway he cOntended would
not stand the traffic. He gave figures
comparing concrete and bitulithic
over a period of years, and said that
so far as maintenance costs are con-
cerned, comparison could not be made
on account of varying systems of ac-
counting in different states. He said
that concrete should be from 81 to
7 or s inches thick; that 6 inches was
thick enough and that bitulithic the
same thickness would cost about the
same. Making It thinner costs less
and that is why concrete is subjected
to unfair competition.
Responding to a question by Harry