REVOLUTION IN ROAD MAKING

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 205, 19 August 1908, Page 3

REVOLUTION IN ROAD MAKING

TARANAKI ENGINEER'S PATENT. Mr. Basham, engineer for the Eltham and llawera County Councils, has just patented a block for loading purposes' tvliifli, it is hoped, will .result in great economy to l<s>al bodies. The principle of the new system is that on either side of the road where the wheels run there should be two tracks composed' ot these concrete blocks, which would therefore bear almost the whole wear and tear of the roads. We understand that Mr. W. .1. Tristram lias formed a syndicate to acquire the patent rights of the block. It is hoped to start works to manufacture the blocks in Eltham.

Describing the patent to the llawera County Council on Saturday, Mr. Basham made the following statement! "The cost of laying these contract tracks would range from about 11.300 per mile on the South road to about .CilDO per ' mile in the back districts, suA as Ararat.a, Meremere, Whnkamara, etc. This ,C!) 00 per mile includes the cost of the blocks, the laying, and the metal or gravel track between them for the horses to run on. There can be no question that a road of this description must outlast a road constructed of Sin of crushed metal, and the hauling power of each horse would be increased very considerably, while a substantial amount per mile would be saved in the initial cost of construction. Under the county loan of .tiili.OOO the cost of the roads in the back districts average as follows: Ararata, £ls per chain; Meremere, JilO per chain; Whakamara, .{CIO per chain; Eraser road, .ill) per chain. The cost of the eolierete track and gravel or metal would range from £ll- to £l2 per chain, which would show a saving of about 25 per cent, in favor of this method. Oil tile Continent of Europe they are constructing main roads wholly of concrete, reinforced with steel spikes! This-class of road has great wearing qualities."