376 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



Road building in Pennsylvania is a great problem; we have no 

 sooner solved one part of it than another, equally as perplexing, 

 confronts us. The one to be attacked next is how .to prevent the 

 speedy deterioration of improved roads by the removal of the cush- 

 ioning coat of screenings and dust which is needed to prevent the 

 stone below from exposure to the grinding action of the wheels. 

 This is an excessive damage caused by automobiles, and is too 

 thoroughly established to admit of doubt. We find some road- 

 builders viewing with a degree of alarm almost akin to consterna- 

 tion the suddenly increased cost of maintenance of their roads. Mr. 

 Beman, of Harrisburg, Pa., in a paper read at Bpriugtield, Mass., 

 Sept. 24, 19U7, said, "1 believe that instead of a curse the automobile 

 is a blessing in disguise, for I am lirmly convinced that its coming 

 will stimulate the search for a method of obtaining a dustless road. 

 The ultimate result will be a road from which each passing breeze 

 or each summer shower will not remove the hue particles of stone. 

 The consequent enhanced durability will in the future reduce the 

 cost of maintenance, even below that existing prior to the advent 

 of the motor car, as there will be less rapid loss of material from 

 the road surface than before the days of the automobile." About 

 160,000.00 revenue was received in 1907 from automobile licenses, 

 which, if applied to roads, would not settle the dust. 



We would like to call attention to loose stone being allowed to 

 remain on our country roads. If the law could be rigidly enforced 

 in regard to this, it would be of untold benefit to the public. 

 Again, it the law could be amended so as to permit the use of 

 crushed stone and a heavy road roller on country roads with State 

 aid and supervision, an immediate and practical benefit to the 

 masses w^ould be the result. 



We feel that the time is near at hand when the principle of State 

 aid will be extended in its application so that the Commonwealth 

 will assist in improving the condition of the ordinary dirt roads. 

 In New York we find that the State is giving considerable aid to 

 the dirt roads and we, in Pennsylvania, cannot afford to be far 

 behind in carrying still further the State aid plan. We commend 

 the State aid system of constructing high class stone roads, but 

 believe that this is only a i>ortion of the work which the Common- 

 wealth will be found undertaking in the near future. In addition 

 to the construction of macadam roads a system should be devisf^d 

 by which part of the burden now resting upon the townships in the 

 care of dirt roads can be assumed by the State. Th^ nvpsent State 

 aid law in fact does take a small step in this direction in the pro- 

 vision contained in it by which the State ITighwav j}f^r^f]-h.v."^^f i^ 

 required to furnish advice and information to township super- 

 visors. W^e find that the Department has «^iown a disnosition to 

 interpret this section of the law in a very liberal manner, and that 

 many townships in the State have beop f-r-'i- -^ {■•-■ ■ <- .^^ 

 by the Department, with working plans for bridges and culverts 

 and with assistance and advice on many such points. State High- 

 way Department engineers are sent without cost to the township 

 to examine the sites of proposed new bridges in order to be able 

 to give intelligent and proper advice and prepare plans for per- 

 manent structures. All of thi^ work is a distinct advantage, apart 



