LESSONS FROM AMERICA

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 75, 22 December 1919, Page 7

LESSONS FROM AMERICA

CONCRETE FOR ROAD WORKS. One purpose which the Mayor of Auckland, Mr. ,1. 11. Gunson, kept in view while on his visit to tho United States was comparison of American methods with those in use in New Zealand, especially in regard to municipal matters (says the "Herald"). Some of the l'aevs which he ob.-erved, in conjunction with those noted by the City Engineer, Mr. W. E. Hush, who is also in the United States on an oliicial visit, will certainly bo of value to the Auckland City Council in regard lo future municipal schemes. As the result of his experience of American roads—he travelled over brick, bitumen, wood-paved, and concrete highways—Mr. Gunson concludes that, taking everything into consideration, and particularly the cost of works in Auckland, concrete is tho road of both the present and I'ulure as far as our main thoroughfares are concerned. The City Council is, in his opinion, quite justified in its policy of concrete road construction. Upon the stretch of highway paving he drove 350 miles in one day. Many of the highways are paved only 15 feet wide, upon the principle that it is bettor to pave a greater distance to 15 tcec than a shorter distance lo 20 feet at .the same cost. In Cast and continuous tiallic areas, however. 20 feet is now tho standard. In the cities and most suburbs the full width is payed. It is recognised that main paved roads are sound economically, and that they assist at once the areas dfrreetly served, and become a valuable asset to the community at large. Canada, toe, is alive to reading necessities, and on enormous area of work is going on in both countries. Mr. Gunsun visited the museums in San Francisco and New York. In both those centres gifts by public-spirited citizens have founded wonderful collections. San I'rauciM'o hu< recently completed in the new city ecu Ire a splendid l ; l>":nv building at a cost of about J:230,()00. Auckland,' lie says, has reason lo 1m proud of its collections in the Library and Art Gallery.