Highways and Highway TransportationChatburn, George R.
History
Highways and Highway Transportation
Chatburn, George R.
Roads; Transportation
=Some Types of Roads and Their Qualities.=--_Earth Roads._--The good
qualities are: low first cost, not slippery, noiseless, easy on horses’
feet and on rubber tires, comfortable when in first-class condition.
The poor qualities are: high tractive resistance, not durable, high
cost of maintenance when traffic becomes dense, requiring constant
attention to be kept in good condition, difficult to clean, muddy in
wet weather, dusty in dry weather, choppy when dust blows away, rut
easily, wear down rapidly under heavy traffic especially in windy
localities, uncomfortable except when in prime condition. Adaptability:
Satisfactory for light or medium traffic when properly drained and
constantly maintained. It will probably pay to put in better roads when
the traffic amounts to more than 400 vehicle-tons per day.
_Sand-clay Roads._--The good and poor qualities are about the same as
for earth roads. In fact they are earth roads with a selected mixture
of sand and clay. They are more durable, harder and smoother than the
ordinary earth road. They are appropriate for a light or medium traffic
and are especially adaptable for sandy stretches or over clay or gumbo
soils. The cost will depend upon the availability of materials; the
cost of maintenance should be no more or very little more than earth
roads. They should be good up to 800 vehicle-tons per day.
_Gravel Roads._--The good qualities are: moderately hard, compact,
and smooth, not slippery, noiseless, easy on horses’ feet, and not
very hard on tires, not muddy, are comfortable, and low in first cost.
Poor qualities: rut rather easily and require constant attention to
keep them in first-class condition, dusty in dry weather. Gravel
sometimes becomes loose on top and rolls under fast moving vehicles,
causing skidding. When not thoroughly compacted gravel roads have high
tractive resistance. They are particularly well adapted to country
roads under medium traffic, especially where gravel may be obtained
at a reasonable cost near at hand. At the present time more miles of
gravel roads than of any other type of surface are being constructed in
the United States. This is because of their low first cost and general
satisfactory character for medium traffic.
_Macadam Roads._--Moderate first cost and when well compacted smooth
but not slippery. They require new dust continually to keep the stones
cemented together. Under rubber tires the dust is not worn off the
stones and what little there is on the roadway is picked up and spread
to the winds. If covered with tar or asphaltic oil the stones cement
together and form excellent roadways under medium traffic, where there
are no extremely heavy trucks to cut through the surface. Traffic up to
1200 vehicle-tons per day is accommodated well by these roads.
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