GOOD ROADS.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 21 March 1919, Page 4

GOOD ROADS.

WHAT IS.BEING DONE IN '.j.'.- .AMERICA, :

' Good roads are a feature or the American cities, according to Mr J. W. Marchbanks, engineer to tlie/Wellington Harbour Board. Mr Marchbanks paid attention to this subject during liis- roeoat visit to- the United States, arid he was much impressed by the efforts the Americans have made to c reare roads that will carry heavy traffic with 'maximum of ease and a minimum of wear and tear.

. The best of the American roads, says Mr Marchbanks, appear to have a concrete base, earefuily laid down, with a covering of three inches of asphalt, Natural. asphalt, or'bitumen, is used, and not tar. In some cases the base is put down in 'two coats, with a line wearing surface 'on' top. The-wearing sutCnce is sometimes of asphaltic concrete,' two or three inches thick,: with a base of concrete. The asphalt wearing surface is the smoother and gives the liner appearance, but the asphaltic concrete giyar"a better grip for horses and motors; j The smooth and fast concrete, roads are not without their disadvantages. They are slippery in wet and frosty weather, :/nd the municipal authorities in the Ah/eri«m.cities-find it necessary. to put down sand at such times'/ The roads have Id be kept very clean.'Some of the citoes have used vitrified brick for their Wad's. "• This material, says Mr MarehVnrife, 'gives very good results. At Rattle'he, saw some pavement of vitntretFbrick said to have been put down 2D years ago, and still in fairly gpodf order. He saw a Buffalo asphalt that had been down for 20

rear.-v r The. city of Buffalo has ;280' miles of asphalt .roads: 21 miles of stone sbl roads, 43 miles of other good roads, and only.lM miles of macndniiu The macadam road, in fact, is regarded 'tl'iere as a poor' road, .pearly all the Americfiu t.ow:is have 'ne'.y a proportion of-asphalt streets.