OCR Text |
Show How Drivers Can Help Maintain Good Roads "Drivers can do as much, almost for I the maintenance of good roads as highway engineers," says Alfred V Masury, chief engineer of the Inti rna-tlonal rna-tlonal Motor company. "Did you ever notice," asked Mr. I Masury. "in going up a hill, parti cu-I cu-I larly one paved with asphaltlc eon-I eon-I crete. that the surface on th right I hand side of the road is wavy ;-.nd rough, while that on the left hand is smooth ! "Well, the reason is this: The e lr traction required to climb the hill wears and tears the surface, while there is little or no traction down hill. "Another thing, the riht hind traek of the road in either direction ! is the one which is worn mosi This j is because of the arched surlai of the road which throws the greater weight 'and strain on the right haiid side of the vehicle and consequently the i j:ht hand side of the roadway. Tru-.k , builders and wagon makers have even adjusted their axles and springs so ns to withstand the greater strain on the right hand side of the vehicle. The custom of arching the ruad ways was formed in the early das of road making when dirt and porous-surfaced porous-surfaced roads were the ones mostly in use. and it was necessary to give sufficient pitch to the surface of the roadway to drain off the WRier and prevent It from penetrating the surface sur-face of the road to soften and weaken the roadbed. With modern watertight surfaces, the necessity for arched roads does not exist and engineers are designing roads with very rllght pitch. "Drivers can prevent wear to the BuruG a oi uie roaus ami ever improve im-prove their condition." if instead of driving in one track or on the edge of the road, they will drive over the middle mid-dle and other less used parts of the road when traffic permits. Th-- one thing that is fatal above all 'hings to road surface.-, whether dirt or o.-ed. o.-ed. Is driving in tracks, which Mib-ject3 Mib-ject3 one small part of the rond sur-fae.. sur-fae.. to all tin- traffic and damagS that the whole road accommodates. Traffic Traf-fic should be evenly distributed oer the entire surface of the road, and a! little thoughtfulness and care in this re.pect on the part of drivers will do much to add to the permanence and excellence of our roadways." |