RAILWAYS, BRIDGES AND ROADS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 September 1926, Page 4

RAILWAYS, BRIDGES AND ROADS

■MU FUUKERT’S VISIT TO AMERICA. Tho export who is responsible for railway, bridge, and road construction, hydro-electrical installations, and much other similar public enterprise in New Zealand, Mr F. W. Furkert, C.M.G., reports a London paper recently arrived in London after a visit to America. Mr Furkert’s official position is Engineer-in-Cliicf of the Public Works Department in New Zealand, the department which has charge of the enterprises mentioned above. Mr Furkert spent several weeks in America and Canada, en route fromNew Zealand. In San Francisco, Mr Thomas Shaunessey, the chief of the San Francisco Corporation Engineering Staff, and tho officers of the Federal Rivers, and Harbours Department, gave Mr Furkert every facility for seeing everything of interest to him . and acquiring information. He further discussed with the Lighthouse 'Branch various problem's in connection with fog signals and automatic lighthouses, while tho Federal Rivers Deparmcnt officers gave him a grej.it deal of information regarding the control of rivers, and advised him which of' tho Californian rivers to visit in order to see conditions approximating those in New Zealand. NEW ZEALAND AND CALIFORNIAN SCENERY.

After leaving San Francisco, Mr Furkert wont to the Ycsemito Valley. His personal opinion is that, though this is a very lino place from a scenic point of view, and well repaving a visit, New Zealand, with its varied scenery, can offer attractions still finer. At Sacramento. Mr Furkert li'ad a long talk with the officers who were responsible for. tho concrete roads in the State, the men who were largely responsible for tho world propaganda in reference to this subject. He found this section of his visit very profitable. Next, ho visited the Yuba, tbe Bear, and Sacramento rivers. Tbe \ aba, particularly in regard to its swiftness 'mnd gravel-carrying conditions, most nearly approached the rivers ot New Zealand, but ho found that tbe problem which thoso rivers presented was not in any way comparable with tho difficulties met with in regard to many ,of the New Zealand watercourses, chiefly bonhuso they are. very * much “older” geologically, and are not carrying gravel with them to the engrnious extent which obtained in some New Zealand rivers,

From California, Mr Furkert went through Oregon and Washington, calling at Seattle, and then up to Vancouver. At Vancouver, lie gave particular attention to highway construction. From there ho went to Prince Rupert by steamer, and there joining tho Canadian National Railways, went on to Jasper Park, one of the great National parks of Canada. Here, again, Mr Furkert was very much struck with tho money that was spent in tho attraction, and for the comfort. of tourists. This was particularly, noticeable in regard to tbe splendid golf course, which had been cut out of standing bush, and which had been prepared with soil brought from prairies.

He then proceeded to Winnipeg and Chicago, studying at the latter place the control of street traffic. He went to St. Louis by automobile across the State of Illinois, seeing en route the Mississippi bridges, then back ;to Springfield, where lie saw the State experts regarding highway construction and maintenance, the question ot traffic and bus control, and generally tho methods adopted for the controlling of public utilities. Here also he saw the famous Bates traffic tests, and the actual road-making materials that had been used in these tests. POPULARITY OF CONCRETE .ROADS. The County of Wayne, surrounding, Detroit, is the area where concrete road construction has developed to the greatest, extent, The authorities) there" stated that the goal liic.v have alien! is to have every street and road paved v, ith concrete, beautified, and well lighted. One fact noted in the U.S.A. was that the County Councils have rating powers extending over the cities, and the effect of this is that a large proportion of their revenue actually comes from the cities, and yet very little of the money so ■Vised is spent in the city areas, it being recognised that good roads leading to a city are' a definite asset to that city. At Detroit, Mr Furkert went over Mr Ford’s works, and then proceeded to St. Catherine’s, where he saw the progress made on the great canal between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario—the Welland Canal. This is one of the biggest public works now under construction oil the American Continent, and is the fourth connection to be constructed between the great lakes. The first was started in the 17th century, and in its length there are 40 locks. The one now in use has 25 locks of limited size, but in the new scheme, the whole “lift” will bo accomplished iu seven locks, ranging from 47-ft “lifts.” and large enough to accommodate ocean liners. Some of the locks exceed in length those of the Panama Canal. When it is completed. the St. Lawrence river to .Montreal will also bo canalised, and all the cities around the takes, including Chicago, will be virtually epean ports.

After this, Mr Furkort went tr> Niagara, and saw the groat electrical stations at the falls, and then on to Schenectady and Pittsfield, to inspect the factories of the General Electric Company, and their research department. From there, lie went to Now York, and on to Washington, where

lie saw the Federal authorities on such subjects as irrigation, power supply, river control, and highways construction. The final days of bis American visit were spent around Boston and Montpelier. To the latter place 'lie bad been advised to go by the U.S. Federal authorities, for there be would seo road problems very much tbe same as they existed in New Zealand. He found this to be so, and actually saw the workmen constructing grave'. lUvds. This visit was particularly useful to him on that account. One of the problems of gravelled roads is the dust, that arises in dry weather, but this difficulty, Mr Furkert states, seems to liavo been overcome by the use of calcium chloride. Mr Furkert then left for England, and is at present attending to matters connected with tbe supply of materials for the various hydro-electric and other activities of the New Zealand Government.