The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-12-04

each suitable TOT the snow constitutes the mechanical $ a force of men sufficient to each truck is organized to operate the equipment
 All of the trucks of the Depart ment from the one and one-halt ton size upward, immediately stop their normal tasks when snow comes, concentrating on the job of keeping the roads open. Normally these vehicles serve for mainten- ance crews on road repairs, road side development work of landscap- ing and roadside stabilization, right of-way work"o surveying crews and highway control tasks such as sign posting and road marking.
 Mobilized In Districts For the snow removal work these trucks and their crews are mobil- ized under the direct control of the district supervisor in each of the eleven maintenance districts into which the Department is divided. The distribution of men and blow trucks provides one crew for each seven and three quarters miles of highway. To meet extra demands for labor, each supervisor has se- cured from the State Employment Service the names of men in his dis trict who are competent to serve in any additional force that may be needed.
 One important piece of new equipment is being added this year with the purchase of rotoblade blow @ combination of rotary ploy and blade blow to meet special problem on the Merritt Parkway where that highway pass es through cuts or goes around banked curves.
 3 Flows Used
 The normal system of blowing was used last year, with three blows following each other in stag gered formation using regulation blades. The first of these worked on the inner edge of the lane being plowed moving the snow toward the center. The second and third trucks In succession picked the snow up and moved 1t to the outer edge where, on the level, the snow was pushed over the curb. This action was and Is possible because the Merritt Parkway curb refiectors are recessed and no not impose any ob- tsacle to the action of the blow blade.
 Where the Parkway passed through cuts or had banked curves a new problem appeared last year. At such points 1t was not possible to blow to the curb with a blade blow and the resulting snow pile melted in the sun and created a special problem of ice that required sanding.
 New Type Used
 As an economy measure the new rotary and blade combination was procured. It will be used this win. ter as number four blow at the trou- blesoine spots. The blade will pick up the snow from the last of the three regular blows and the rotor will throw the snow clear of the curb or bank of the cut SO that mo run ba k will follow. It is expected that this will more than offset the cost of the rotary blow and Its opera ton in savings on sanding.
 Each of the trucks in this snow army Is equipped with special un- derframe that is designed to dis tribute the thrust and impact of blow against snow to the main frame of the truck and from there equal- ly to front and rear axles. This type of hitch does away with a for mer problem of overstraining from axles and a consequent steering problem and ultimate repair job. 363 Trucks With Flows
 The entire force of 3es trucks is provided with regulation blade blows for combating average snow conditions where no great depth or drift problem appears. In addition A heavy duty four wheeled drive trucks have V blows for bucking drifts and heavy snow in cuts and narrow breaks between hills. While every district has some of these V plows-enough to meet local prob lems in each case--the greatest con- centration of them Is in Litchfield county where the hilly country and the substantially heavier snowfall creates special problem. This dis tribution of heavy equipment per- mits all of the main highways of the state to be cleared of snow with al- most identical promptness.
 In addition to V blows, seven of these large trucks have wings which are designed to take the snow as the V removes 1t from the highway and carry it back from the edge of the road. These wings are in use where highway conditions require the snow to be thrown back far enough to prevent melted snow from flowing back and later creating a1 ice condition. Tn addition the wings move light snow back far enough to prevent drifting into the travelled area.
 Lights For Safety
 A special system of lighting is installed on every truck as a safety factor. The lights are so placed and colored that drivers are readily able to identify Q truck doing blow work, and more important to know how III LUNCHES AND MEALS ALWAYS READY