THE ROADING PROBLEM.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 May 1921, Page 4

THE ROADING PROBLEM.

As the result of a thorough inspection and investigation ot the latest principles of road and street-making in the United States, Canada, and Britain/Mr. Morton, city surveyor of Melbourne, has made a valuable and interesting report. He considers that the best type of road is one of Australian hardwood laid on concrete blocks, and top-dressed with bitumen or asphaltum, though he regards the tar-dressed macadam roads of England as probably the best in the world, but would last only a short time under the traffic conditions of America, where highway construction is practically confined to concrete and asphalt, exceptional care 'being taken over the preparation and curing of the concrete. An important feature of it he report is the advocacy of a carefully considered scheme of road-making, covering.a long series of years, as adopted by the. United States, the Government subsidies amounting to pot more than half the cost, though special grants are made occasionally, the cost of the road not to exceed 2000 pel* mile, exclusive of bridges. It is found in America that a great volume of traffic immediately utilises the newest type of highway wherever it may he; also that the concrete roads come out best in tests of petrol consumption, as much as twice the distance resulting from one test, .so that if there is a corresponding saving in the wear of the tyres and mechanical parts, the gain on that class of road would be enormous. America has had fourteen years’ experience of concrete roads, which are now generally adopted. The economic advantages of good roads must he obvious to everyone, besides facilitating school attendance and social intercourse. As an illustration o'f faith in asphaltic-concrete on a cement basis, a contract was let for the construction of a highway of 153 miles, of which 111 was of that material. What the Dominion needs is a carefully considered scheme of reading of the best and most durable type. It will take many years to carry out, apd will involve a very large expenditure, but the ultimate gain would be such as to make the cost appear comparatively insignificant. It is one of those matters that do not admit of tinkering, the best being only just good enough. ■