The Dust Fiend

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 261, 13 November 1901, Page 1

The Dust Fiend

(To the Editor of Times.) Sir —Will you kindly reprint tho following letter from the Manawatu Times ?--I am,'etc.,

Gladstone Road.

Sir, I am sure it is unanimously agreed the dust storms seriously mar I the attractiveness of Palmerston North, and it is almost impossible to estimate tho loss suffered by the inhabitants by damaged stock, cost of cleaning, and hindrance to business generally. In other parts of the world as well as here dust proves a great nuisance and loss; so much so that municipalities have turned their attention to removing the great disadvantage under which a town must work where dust storms are usual. I think it will be agreed it is high time the people of our town seriously took the matter in hand and that the nuisance once removed, a desirable class of residents would make this their, home who otherwise would not. In the United States the use of oil upon the streets is becoming more and more general, and the numbers of communities adopting this innovation is constantly increasing. The city of Sacramento has, after conclusive experiments, adopted the plan, and the results have proved satisfactory. The oil was applied hot and cold, the last giving the best results. Heated to a temperature of 180 deg. in a boiler adapted for the purpose the oil was pumped into a sprinkler, and then sprayed over the roads. The experiments proved the decided economy over the water system, besides lessening the cost of maintenance, giving a hard, smooth surface, and allowing increased loads with a decreased strain upon the horses. The Americans say, sprinkled with oil the roads are “practically dustless,” while the injury to rubber tyres was found to be almost nothing. One city in Southern California computes the saving in maintenance at 45 per cent. In one country 100 barrels of oil to the mile of roadway 12 feet wide sufficed for the first application, and sixty barrels for the second six months secured permanently good results.* The entire cost was covered by the payment of one dollar a barrel, including the preparation of the surface. An American writer commenting upon the results by oiling the streets says, “ For many months of the year, the clouds of dust arising from the roads settled upon the foliage, turning it into a dirty brown hue, marring the exceptional beauties of the streets and park. Since the application of oil the dust no longer flies, and the verdancy of the trees and plantsis no longer obscured.” Further, that the cleanliness and perfect condition of the streets is remarked by tourists as the most enticing feature of the place. In one American city the saving is estimated at 500 dollars a month on a, drive way alone, besides the saving oi 70,1)00 gallons of water each day. If this matter is investigated and oil proves too expensive, tar will be a very good substitute, and could be much more economically applied by means of a sprinkler, than it now is. —I am, etc., R. Edwards.