HIGHWAYS AND MOTORS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6433, 3 February 1908, Page 6

HIGHWAYS AND MOTORS.

The very important question of the adaptation of the high roads to the more exacting requirements of motor-car traffic, which has been an urgent problem in France, will form (says ‘ The Tiroes”) the subject of an international congress which is now being organised under the auspices of M. Barthou, Minister of Public Works, with the approve al of the Government. The fact is announced in an interesting article in tho “Matin” by M. Abel Bnllif, president of the Touring Club de France. M. Baillif says that the 570,000 . kilometres of French highways are now maintained at on annual cost of 150,000,000 f. (£6,000,t 00), the original cost of construction being estimated at nearly four milliards of francs (£160,000,000); yet, according to M. Ballif, these roads are going to ruin owing to the wear and tear of motor-car traffic. Tho road, which formerly lasted six, eight, or n dozen years, now require to be completely repaired in a third or oven a fourth of the time. Ten kilometres of frequented highway, which under horse traction lasted on an average six years, cost for that period 330,000 f. (£13,200). Tho addition of motor-car traffic reduces tho duration of the road to two years, and increases file cost of its maintenance for six yenrs to 750,000 f. (£36.000). This cost will prot/ably be further increased very soon by greater frequency of circulation and a higher overage speed of automobiles. Such an increase of expenditure lining prohibitive, M. Ballif suggests that a now form of pavement—small, well-jointed, and cut stones, laid unon a stronglyconstrncted concrete base—should bo substituted for the present macadam. Tt would, ho ssvs. cost 8,375 f, (£335) p Cr kilometre snnually, and would last from 12 to Tt voars, ns against 12.50f1f. (£500) for macadam, which would at tho outside not Inst more than a dozen years. Tn conclusion. M. Ballif dwells upon tho advantnges for motorists and others of a well-constructed stone pavement, which would cause far less dust.