WHEEL- TIRE PHILOSOPHY.

155

You can
haul 210 lbs. more on good hard sandy roads with 4-in. tire with
the same amount of power exerted than you can with i>^-in. tire.
You can haul S07 lbs. more on good level gravel roads with the same
amount of power exerted with i)4-iu. tire than you can with 4-in. tire.
You can start 240 lbs. more with 4-in. tire on muddy roads, with the
same amount of power exerted than you can with ij^-in. tire.
You can haul 485 lbs. more on muddy roads with i)^-in. tire with the
same amount of power exerted than you can with 4-in. tire.
The advantage of the narrow tire is the starting and hauling on block
pavement, hauling on gravel roads, and the hauling on muddy roads.

Comparison of Tests Nos. 5 and 6.

Difference in weight: No. 5 was 200 lbs. heavier than No. 6.

On block pavement No 5 pulled 5 per cent, easier than No. 6.
On good hard sandy roads No. 5 pulled 18 per cent, easier than No. 6.
OR,
You can haul 200 lbs. more with 4-in. tire on block pavement with the
same amount of power exerted than you can with i>^-in. tire.
You can haul 605 lbs. more on good level sandy roads with 4-in. tire
with the same amount of power exerted than you can with i)4-m. tire.
On sandy roads where the tire cut in three inches with the wide tire the
average pull was the same, viz., 650 lbs.

Comparison of Tests Nos. 7 and 8.

Weight of loads were alike, viz., 4,590 lbs.

Across No. 8 started 12 per cent, easier than No. 7.
fields
" " No. 8 pulled 15 per cent, easier than No. 7.
On hard roads No. 8 started 17 percent, easier than No. 7.
On hauling both were alike, viz., 350 lbs.
OR,
You can
start 530 lbs. more with a 3-in. tire across fields with the same
amount power exerted than with a i_^-in. tire.
of
You can haul 805 lbs. more with a 3-in. tire across tields with the same
amount of power exerted than with a i}^-in. tire.
On hard roads you can start 935 lbs. more with a 3-in. tire with the same
amount of power exerted than you can with a i j^-in. tire.

— i^in. iron axle;

--..-.
Test of California Wide Track Wagon.
size of wheels, 3 ft. 8 in. and 4 ft. 6 in.

...
3 in. ,
tire.
Weight of wagon, 1020 lbs.
load,
;' - - . 4260
Total weight of wagon including load, - - - 5280
To start the load on block pavement, . . . . 600

...
To move it dead pull on block pavement,- - - - 100
To start the load on good hard roads,
...
. . . . goo
To move it dead pull on good hard roads, 300
To start the load on gravel roads,

.--....
- yoo
To move it dead pull on gravel roads, - . - - 200
To start the load in thick sticky mud where the wheels cut in from
2^ in. to 3 in., 1050
To move it dead pull in thick sticky mud, same as above - 600
To start the load on block pavement up grade, - 650

....
- -

To move it dead pull on block pavement up grade - - 125

On roads with deep ruts the dynamometer showed as high as - 1500
Where the steady pull was only ^c^q
To start the load on good sod where the tire cut in about )4 in- - 900
To move it dead pull on good sod where the tire cut in about }i in. 600
 ;

156 WHEEL-TIRE PHILOSOPHY.

The wagon started empty on wood pavement at - -
100 lbs.
and was moved on the dead pull with - - - - 25 "

California Wagon Test No. 2. Same gear and load, —

wheels 3 ft. 8 in. and 4 ft. 6 in. tire, i ^ in. ;

To start the load on block pavement, ^qq lbs. . . . .

To move it dead pull on block pavement,

-----
- - .
^5
To start the load on good hard dirt roads, - 700 - -

To move it dead pull on good hard dirt roads, -

300 -

To start the load on gravel roads, 550

To move it dead pull on gravel roads, - --
175 -

In mud same as previous test it started at . . _ 1250

To move it dead pull on mud roads,

-----
- . - -
yoo
To start the load on block pavement up grade, -

-----
- - 600
On good hard sod across the fields, same as on previous test, it
started at - -
1000
To move it dead pull across fields, 500
The tire in this case did not cut into the sod any further than the 3 in.
tire did.
To start the load on good sandy roads, - - -
900 "
To move it dead pull on good sandy roads, . . _ 300 "

Test of Regular Narrow Track. i ^ -in. iron axle, wagon —

wheels, 3 ft. 8 in. and 4 ft. 6 in. width of tire, 2)^ in.

...
;

Weight of wagon including load, - -

5130 lbs. -

To start the load on block pavement, - 400

To move it dead pull on block pavement,

-----
- - 100 -

To start the load on good hard dirt roads, - - - goo

To move it dead pull on good hard dirt roads, - - 325
To start the load on gravel roads, 500
To move it dead pull on gravel roads, - - - - 150
To start the load on muddy roads same as before, - - 1000
To move it dead pull on muddy roads, -
- - 700
To start the load on block pavement up grade, - - - 700
To move it dead pull on block pavement up grade, - - 150
To start the load on good sod, - - - . . goo
To move it dead pull on good sod, . _
- - 500
Roads the same in every test.
Recapitulation.
The foregoing deductions from the tests show seven points
in favor of narrow tire, and thirteen points
in favor of wide
and these thirteen points are strong ones. On hard roads and
pavement there is no strong argument to bring up in favor of
wide tire, as under these conditions a narrow tire is to be pre-
ferred, as there is not the resistance and friction that there must
be on a wide tire. Neither in soft mud or slush is there any
advantage in wide tire but on ground that a narrow tire would
;

cut through, and a wide one would not, then the wide tire
shows to the greatest advantage, as in comparison of tests No. 7
and No. 8. These are good tests for the farmer, and show how
easily he can overload his team as under these conditions test
;

No. 7, 650 lbs. is a good dead pull, and no team should do

more than that for steady work; 2.29 tons across the fields with
 —— "

WHEEL-TIRE PHILOSOPHY. 157

650 lbs. straight draft is a big load. While almost any good
team can do more than this, you must bear in mind that if the
field is uneven or soft, and 1200 lbs. dead pull is required, as
we found it would be, and even higher, this means a load
of 4.58 tons.
Test No. 8 shows at a glance whether the farmer should be
urged to buy a wide tire wagon or not. We advocate wide tire
for farms, and narrow tire for good roads and pavements.

$100 iygold) in prizes for photographs of American roads. See

full page announce/ncnt in front advertising pages of this nutnber.
Now is the season to compete. Full particulars and competitors' blanks
supplied o?i application to the editor ofOoOD Roads.

Pead the page in this number entitled " A fe7U important lin^s to you
from the Editor.

"Allow me to assure you of my high appreciation of Good

Roads and I feel sure it is doing a good work on behalf of an
important national subject. All the copies I have received have
been placed in the hands of influential citizens in this city. Let
the good work continiie. " IVm. H. Seaver, Oakland, Cal.

" That illustrated monthly magazine, Good Roads, pub-

lished in the Potter Building in New York, at $2 a year, is do-
ing an excellent educational work. Its editor announces that
it contains the best articles on street pavements and road con-

struction that can be obtained. It also contains descriptions of

the famous roads and streets of the world, and treats of road-
making machines, rollers and kindred appliances used in the
making and repairing of highways. We
presume that a
sample copy will be sent free to any one who will write fen- it as
above. — The Blacksmith and Wheelwright, N'eic York.

"The first volume of Good Roads should be bound and

placed in every public reading room, club house and large
hotel in the United States. I think this would be a valuable
and lasting advertisement for our work. It must be seen and
read to be appreciated." E. J. Mock, Alma, Mass.

"I HAVE a file of Good Roads and find them of great value.
The Governor of this state has issued a proclamation calling
together a road congress to meet at Raleigh on the 19th inst.
— H. B. Battle, Ph. D. Director Agricultural College, Raleigh, N. C.
,
 :

MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATION.

THEappointed
work of tetiiporary Massachusetts Commission,
the
last year, has been so well done and so widely
commended that many of the best citizens of that state
are now agitating the movement for a permanent commission,
and a bill has been introduced into the State Legislature which
appears to be so wisely framed that Good Roads has decided
to print the bill in full, believing that it may serve as a model
from which other states may gather suggestions of sound value.
The bill is as follows
An Act to establish a Highway Commission to improve the
Public Roads of this Commonwealth.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Gen-
eral Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follotvs:
Section i. The governor with the advice and consent of
the council shall, within thirty days after the passage of this
act, appoint three competent persons, to serve as the Massa-
chusetts highway commission. Their terms of office shall be
so arranged and designated at the time of their appointment
that the term of one member shall expire in five years, one in
four years, and one in three years. The full term of office
after these dates shall be one for five years, one for four years,
and one for three years, and all vacancies occurring shall be
filled by the governor with the consent of the council. The
members of said board may be removed by the governor with
the consent of the council for such cause as he shall deem suf-
ficient and shall express in the order of removal. They shall
each receive in full compensation for their services an annual
salary of thousand dollars, payable in equal monthly in-
stalments and also their travelling expenses. They may expend
annually for clerk hire, engineers, and defraying expenses,
incidental and necessary for the performance of their duties,
exclusive of office rent, the sum of thousand dollars.
They shall be provided with an office in the state house, or
some other suitable place in the city of Boston, in which the
records of their office shall be kept. They may establish rules
and regulations for the conduct of business and for carrying
out the provisions of this act.
Sec 2. They shall, to time, compile statis-
from time
the public roads of cities, towns and counties,
tics relating to
and make such investigations relating thereto as they shall
deem expedient. They may be consulted at all reasonable
times, without charge, by officers of counties, cities, or towns
having the care and authority over public roads, and shall,
without charge, advise them relative to the construction, repair,
 MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATION. 159

alteration or maintenance of the same but advice given by

;

them toany such ofificers shall not impair the legal duties and
obligations of any county, city or town. They shall prepare a
map or maps of the Commonwealth on which shall be shown
county, city and town boundaries and also the public roads,
particularly the state highways, giving, when practicable,
the names of the same. They shall collect and collate infor-
mation concerning the geological formation of this Common-
wealth, so far as it relates to the material suitable and proper
for road-building, and shall, so far as practicable, designate on
said map or maps the location of such material. Such map or
maps shall at all reasonable times be open for the inspection of
officers of counties, cities and towns having the care of and
authority over public roads. They shall each year hold at
least one public meeting in each county for the open discussion
of questions relating to the public roads, due notice of which
shall be given in the press or otherwise.
Sec. 3. They shall make an annual report to the legisla-
ture of their doings and expenditures of their office, together
with such statements, facts and explanations bearing upon the
construction and maintenance of public roads, and such sugges-
tions and recommendations as to the general policy of the
Commonwealth in respect to the same as may seem to them
appropriate. Their report shall be transmitted to the secre-
tary of the Commonwealth on or before the first Wednesday in
January of each year, to be laid before the legislature. All
maps, plans and statistics collected and compiled under their
direction shall be preserved in their oihce.
Sec. 4. County commissioners, city and town officers hav-
ing the care of and authority over public roads and bridges
throughout the Commonwealth shall, on request, furnish the
commissioners any information required by them concerning
the roads and bridges within their jurisdiction.
Sec. 5. For the purpose of carrying out the provision of
this act said commission may expend such sums for necessary
assistants, procuring of necessary supplies, instrum.ents, mate-
rial, machinery and other property and for the construction and
maintenance of state highways as shall from time to time be
appropriated by the legislature, and they shall in their annual
report state what sums they deem necessary for the year next
after the first day of March.
Sec. 6. Whenever the county commissioners of a county
adjudge that the common necessity and convenience require
that the Commonwealth acquire as a state highway a new or an
existing road in that county they may petition in writing, to
the Massachusetts highway commission stating the road they
recommend, and setting forth a detailed description of said
road by metes and bounds, together with a plan and profile of
i6o MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATION.
the same. Said highway commission shall consider such peti-
tion, and if they adjudge that it ought to be allowed they shall
in writing so notify said county commissioners. It shall then be-
come the duty of said county commissioners to cause said road to
be surveyed and laid out in the manner provided for the laying
out and alteration of highways, the entire expense thereof to
be borne and paid by said county. Said county commissioners
shall preserve a copy of such petition, plans and profiles with
their records for public inspection. When said highway com-
mission shall be satisfied that said county commissioners have
properly surveyed and laid out said road, and set in place suit-
able monuments, and have furnished said highway commission
with plans and profiles, on which shall be shown such monu-
ments and established grades, in accordance with the rules and
regulations of said Massachusetts highway commission, said
highway commission may approve the same, and so notify in
writing said county commissioners. Said highway commission
shall then present a certified copy of said petition, on which
their approval shall be indicated, together with their estimates
for constructing said road and the estimated annual cost for
maintaining the same, to the secretary of the Commonwealth,
who shall at once lay the same before the legislature, if it be in
session, otherwise on the second Wednesday of January follow-
ing. If the legislature make appropriation for constructing
said road, said Massachusetts highway commission shall cause
said road to be constructed in accordance with this act, and
when completed and approved by them said road shall become
a state highway, and henceforth be maintained by the Com-
monwealth under the supervision of said Massachusetts high-
way commission.
Sec. 7. Two or more cities or towns may petition the
Massachusetts highway commission that, in their opinion, the
common necessity and convenience require that the Common-
wealth should acquire as a state highway a new or an existing
road leading from one city or town to another, which petition
shall be accompanied by a detailed description of such road by
metes and bounds, and also a plan and profile of the same. If
said highway commission adjudge that the common necessity
and convenience require such road to be laid out and acquired
as a state highway, they shall cause a copy of said petition, on
which shall be their finding, to be given to the county commis-
sioners of the county in which said road or portions of it lies.
It shall then become the duty of the county commissioners, at
the expense of the county, to cause said road to be surveyed
and laid out, and set in place suitable monuments and a detailed
description by metes and bounds, plans and profiles to be made
on which shall be shown said monuments and established grades,
and give the same to said highway commission; but said county
 1

Jl/A SSJ CHUSE TTS LEG ISLA TLON. 1 6

commissioners shall have the right to change the line of said

road, provided the termini are substantially the same. Said
county commissioners shall preserve said petition and a copy of
the plans and profiles, with their records, for public inspection.
When said highway commission shall be satisfied that the
county commissioners have properly surveyed and laid out said
road and set in place suitable monuments and have furnished
them with plans and profiles on which shall be shown said
monuments and established grades, in accordance with the
rules and regulations of said Massachusetts highway commis-
sion, they shall then proceed in the same manner as provided
in section six of this act and when said road is completed and
;

approved by said highway commission it shall become a state

highway and henceforth be maintained by the Commonwealth
under the supervision of said Massachusetts highway commission.
Sec. 8. In all cases where a highway is to be constructed
at the expense of the Commonwealth as a state highway, all
the grading necessary to make said highway of the established
grade, and the construction of culverts and bridges, shall be
paid by the county in which said highway or portion of it lies,
and the work must be done to the satisfaction of said Massa-
chusetts highway commission. No action by a person claiming
damage for the taking of land or <:hange of grade under the
provision of this act shall be commenced against a county till
said highway commission has taken possession for the purpose
of constructing such state highway.
Sec. 9. When appropriation has been made by the legisla-
ture for the construction of a state highway said Massachusetts
highway commission shall at once cause plans and specifications
to be made and estimate the cost for the construction of such state
highway, and give to each city and town in which said road
lies, a certified copy of said plans and specifications with a
notice that said highway commission is ready for the construc-
tion of said road. Such city or town shall have the right, with-
out advertisement, to contract with said Massachusetts high-
way commission for the construction of so much of such high-
way as lies within its limits, in accordance with the plans and
specifications of the highway commission and under its super-
vision and subject to its approval, at a price agreed upon
between said highway commission and said city or town but ;

such price agreed upon shall not exeed eighty-five per cent,
of the original estimate of said highway commission. If such
city or town shall within thirty days not elect to so contract,
said highway commission may advertise in one or more papers
published in the county where the road, or portions of it is sit-
uated, and in one or more papers published in Boston, for bids
'for the construction of said highway in accordance with the
plans and specifications furnished by said highway commission,
1 62 MA SSA CHUSE TTS LEGISL A TION.
and under their supervision and subject to their approval.
Said highway commission shall have the right to reject any and
all bids, and they shall require of the contractor a bond for at
least thousand dollars for each mile of road, to indemnify
such city or town in which such highway lies against damage
while such road is being constructed, and the Commonwealth
shall not be liable for any damage occasioned thereby. Said
highway commission shall make and sign all contracts in the
name of the Massachusetts highway commission.
Sec. io. For the maintenance of state highways, said Mas-
sachusetts highway commission shall contract vv^ith the city or
town in which such state highway lies, or a person, firm or
corporation, for the keeping in repair and maintaining such
highway, in accordance with the rules and regulations of said
highway commission, and subject to their supervision and
approval, and such contracts may be made without previous
advertisement.
Sec. II. No
length of possession, or occupancy of land
within the limit of any state highway, by an owner or occupier
of adjoining land, shall create a right to such land in any ad-
joining owner or occupant or a person claiming under him, and
any fences, buildings, sheds or other obstructions encroaching
upon such state highway shall, upon written notice by the
highway commission, at once be removed by the owner or
occupier of adjoining land, and if not so removed said commis-
sioners may cause the same to be done and may remove the
same upon the adjoining land of such owner or occupier.
Sec. 12. The Commonwealth shall not be liable for injuries
to persons or property occurring through a defect, or want of
repair, or of sufficient railing in or upon the state highway, but
the city or town in which such highway is situated shall be liable
the same as for injuries occurring upon other public roads.
Sec. 13. Cities and towns shall have police jurisdiction over
all state highways and they shall at once notify in writing the
state highway commission or its employees of any defect or
want of repair in such highway. No state highw^ay shall be
dug up for laying pipes, sewers, posts, wires, railways or other
purposes and no tree shall be planted or removed or obstruction
placed thereon except by the written consent of the super-
intendent of streets or road commissioners of a city or town,
approved by the highway commission, and then only in ac-
cordance with the rules and regulations of said highway com-
mission and in all cases the work shall be iinder the supervision
and to the satisfaction of the highway commission, and the
entire expense of replacing same shall be paid by them to whom
such consent was given or the work done but a city or town
;

shall have the right to dig up such state highway without such
approval of the highway commission where immediate neces-
 WIDE TIRES. 163

sity demands their so doing, but in all such cases such highway
shall be at once replaced in as good condition as before, and at
the expense of the city or town. Said highway commission
shall give suitable names to the state highways and they shall
have the right to change the name of any road that shall have
become a part of a state highway. They shall cause to be
erected, at convenient points along state highways, suitable
guide posts.
Sec. 14. The word "road" as used in this act includes
every thoroughfare which the public has a right to use.
Sec. 15. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

WIDE TIRES.

OURmaintenance
Canadian neighbors
and
are alive to the question of road
are taking steps to prevent the de-
struction of their wheelways through the cutting and
grinding of the surfaces by narrow wheel-tires. The Ontario
Department of Agriculture has recently sent out a valuable
special bulletin setting forth the treatment necessary to make
as well as to maintain good roads. The report says the repair-
ing of roads once a year (the usual plan) is wrong in principle.
It is all the more objectionable as almost always it is done in
the Spring, the good effects disappearing before the time for
fall and winter travel sets in.
The report strongly commends the movement in favor of
wide tires for draft vehicles. It says it has been proved by
repeated experiments that wheels with tires 2)^ inches wide
causes double the wear of wheels which have 4 ^^^ -inch tires.
The wide tire has a tendency to roll the roadbed and keep it
smooth at the same time, while the narrow one cuts it up and
requires more hauling force for the same weight of load, besides
spoiling the thoroughfare. Most of the European countries
have laws regulating this matter. In France the market
wagons have tires from three to ten inches in width, usually
four to six inches, and the rear axle is the longest, so that the
hind wheels run on a line outside of the fore wheels, the vehicle
being thus a road-maker instead of a road-destroyer. For
wagons without springs the tires should not be less than 2}^
inches for a load of 500 to 1,000 pounds on each wheel, and for
loads of 2,000 to 3,000 pounds on each wheel the tire should not
be less than six inches wide. The document is worthy of wide
circulation in the United States as well as Canada.