THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, MOTORING SUPPLEMENT. ŠATURDAY, MARCH 28, 1931.
THE ASPHALT ROAD,
Longer Wearing and Better Than Concrete.
BRITISH AND AMERICAN, CONTRASTS.
The modern rond, anys Mr.diatrict and in America we had Francis Wand, M.
bited 10
Thr
materially reduced. It was there- asphalt here as compared with the fore not surprising to hear from duti appearance in America. one of the principals of a Depart-They do not complain of skidding, ment that they invariably laid the but it is more frequent here on concreto so that at any time account of the necessity for keep surfacing material could be laiding the substructure watertight. on the top of it without inter- Any rain or drizzle thus remains fortar with the levels of footpaths. on the surface and reduces frie-
writer was informed that tienni resistance.
The modern 85 per cent, of the concrete ronds method in to lay the
asphalt pave- IR New York State were now ment and make it waterproof in covered with asphalt. A rond in the ordinary way, and then to Madison Place, Washington, was throw on the surface before it is being constracted (Member), In an article contri-anch roads under reconstruction world,
All parts of the
the previously conted with bitumen. During the week of the The chippings are tamped into the Commercial and of appreciating what they Congress this rond was excavated surface, where they remain slight- published by the Manchester were like. It is almost anieces and a concrete foundation was put ly above the Guardian). in undoubtedly the try to explain that they were
composition and give asphalt rond or the road in which rough, irregular, and so dusty that in and finished with a bituminous a roughened surface which la vory bitumen employed. The word it was impossible to travel behind roads in Washington constructed composition beneath.
surface. We were taken over effective without injurlag the "Bitumen" is used here because another vehicle except at & dis-with asphalt that had been laid
is really a composition of tance of about half mile. None
Attempts are being made lg kitumen
and a mineral
aggregate). of these roads had a foundation thirty and fifty years ago, and employ a
fairly high percentage of The writer has just returned from such as we in this country would which stand up with an even and small stone in the composition of the Washington Roads Congress, recognise, and follows that in regular surface to the trafle of the asphalt, making it portus to a
to-day. and he has been able to make an reconstruction it has heen neres
certain extent. This may have an examination of 3,000 miles of all anry in most instances to remove tions in Amerien are totally dif- but its eventual failure or success Weather and physient, condi-initial success, with light traffe. Lypes of ronds in New York, the soil and replace it with the Washington. Detroit.
certain only material available to act as
10% ferent from thin country, of is dependent on weather condi county and State ronds of Marya foundation--eement concrete.
There the weather is hot tions and on the volume of heavy EQUTBE. Jand, Virginia, North and South in two States a peculiar form of for long periods; in Virginia we trafie with solid tyres. Carolina tieorgia and Florida, and when crashed and tipped since Marel, with the exception of bitumen; the tests usually applied limestone has been discovered we told that no rain had fallen There are different classes of come Canada.
Concrete roads there have been to the rond forms a very and July which they regarded as bon bisulphide or not, and its two very short periods in June are whether it is soluble in car- and are belig fald by the mile foundation after rolling--appar They have been so eulogised that ently quite equal to concrete or
This lengthy melting point. There are a num It might be inferred that we in any other form of construction. period of dry weather was excep
ber of other important tests, but this country were very much -The surface in then severed with gather their ronds are invariably because if the bitumen has not to tional. but from what one could the melting point is important hind the lines in not adopting bituminous composition to form
dry. There are NG hedges or subjected to any great hent it them. It is only after examing the actual wearing surface.
fenres; in the country the average indicates that very little fuxing tion and close inquiry that One We were accompanied by re-road is above the surrounding oil is necessary to realises the exact position.
it to the Those presentatives of the State Depart land, and where it is not there is consistency required. If it has a
bring who are in a position to express ments, and we asked as we travel-a dyke or drainage ditch cut so an opinion neither make adverso led over these concrete ronds how that the water ran be kept out of
high melting point a large propor- tion of Buxing oll is
necessary. criticism nor take a favourable long they had been fald Every view of any particular type of time they would look at the red the road even though capillary which may or may not have a con-
Attraction.
All town wands are siderable rond, but simpls sa Fut they are if it was cracked badly the perind far whe
percentage of volatile wider than la inging the cheapest form suitable would be right to ten years, or if England
cammon in Fails, If the mixture is laid hot The trailic for the traffle that uses it
consists these oils will evaporate during it may the erneks were not prominent it time
almost Patirely of motor-cara Ere concrete in 03/10
the process of laying or subse- instance, would be two or three years during the fourteen days' travel- quently, and the asphalt in another, surface treatWhenever we approached a town, ing we did not seen lurry of any thereby becomes harder or more composition incut In a thirḍ and so on.
the concrete roadway was almost kind except where the roads were brittle as time passes. If the Ronds tied to be nothing more invariably bully cracked, and it route of construction, and bituminous composition in laid or less than "Dirt" that in, they sometimes :༣1. uneven that
the these vehicles were fitted with cuk, it is expected that the very were formet mit of the soil of the sperrl [ velicham hari te be twin pneumatic tyres. One was light volatile oils that must be forced to the conclusion that in over in the fluxed bitumen will large towns asphalt road construc-adnost Immediately be absorberl tion was the most acceptable and into The atmosphere and satisfactory, and that eventually harder contents remain behind to it would spread into the country act as a binding agent. along the roads that were being constructed or improved with what my be termed a “foundation sur-
Inst. C.E.the opportunity of seeing many of delegates Under the eyes cold chippings that have been
THE
MOTORUNION
INSURANCE C? IT
Incorporated in England
(Under the auspices of the Automobile Association)
SPECIALIZES IN MOTOR INSURANCE
For full particulars apply to:-- THE UNION TRADING Co., Ltd.
York Building.
Phone 27758.
account.
In the British lales, weather conditions have a material offect un the road structure; there in dieulty in keeping it free from moisture, hence the importance of making the composition forming |the structure a watertight mass has been found that although 19% to 10 per cent. of bitumen in a sand surfacing mixture would be satisfactory in the United States. it is necessary in this country to inereuse the percentage to 12 and 113. This difference accounts for the shiny appearance of the
A CREDENTIAL OF QUALITY
WHEREVER
smart crowds and
smart motor cars gather you will find the Nash. For Nash is a symbol for quality among the motor cars of the world.
The most beautiful car ever to carry the Nash insignia is shown above- the Eight-95 Limousine for seven passcogers.
With its 115 horsepower Twin-Igni- tion Straight-Eight engine it is the most powerful car ever built by Nash. And it is the car which stands out as z masterpiece against a traditional Nash
background of more than a decade of fine car engineering and skillful de- signing,
This new Nash Straight-Eight offers everything a discriminating motorist could desire-beauty-style--smart- ness-luxury-comfort and power- ful performance! This Limousine and seven equally smart Eight-90 series models supply all the advantages of ex- pensive car ownership—but without the usual penalty of excessive cost. We shall be happy to demonstrate any model at your convenience.
The Oriental Motor Co.
THE
353. Hennessy Road, Hongkong-
NEW NASH O
the
In America oil is almost a drug on the market, and a "cutback” bitumen Bely to give good resulta can be obtained much more cheap-
bitumen
is than here,
here, where all all and to be transhipped. Naturally the volatile oils are the more expensive, and as they dis appear into the air the cost of that portion must be put against the cost of using a bitumen virtually free from volatile oils, which must he used hot,
£85 MOTOR CAR.
Another Triumph for British Engineering.
C
50 MILES P.G.
Only a few weeks after the arrival of the long-awaited £100 enr comes news of s now car which will be salit for tho astonishing price of £85.
This is to be marketed by the Rover Company of Coventry, and will be fully guaranteed.
The actual details of the speci- fication are not as yet available, but it is stated that it will be a full-sized car capable of carrying four passengers in comfort. will have a maximum speed of 50 mp.h. and will do 50 miles to a gallon of petrol.
It
It is over 18 months since work on the car was begun, and several models have been undergoing atrenuous road tests for the lust four months. Recently ave of them were driven from Coventry to Purlock Hill in Somerset, where they emerged successfully from tests on this famous gradient.
Independent Springing.
A particularly interesting
feature of the car is found in the suspension. The wheels are spring independently, and it is stated that this not only contri. butes largely to the comfort of the passengers, but that it also makes the ear particularly suitable for oversens use. Many of the tests, indeed, through which the first
of modela
the new car have passed, have been over rough, pot- holed surfaces of a Colonial type. The suspension, it is understood, has enabled these to be taken at high speeds with absolute com- furt.
In an interview, Col. Frank Suncle, managing director of the Rover Company, said that he thought the introduction of this ear would
open up motoring to a vast new field. He compared the market for motor cars, to pyramid; at the top of the mid stood the few people who afford very expensive cars, as one approached the bano found over-increasing num- bers of men and women who came into the market for 'very low- priced vehicles.
and
one
The advent of the new Rover, which is the first "two-figure” car to bo marketed in Great Britain, is a triumph for British engineer ing.
It will be sold on terms suit able to the working, man's pocket, and since it will be equally suit. able for home or overseas use it should enhance the proslige of thi British motor fhdustry. It la ex Hácted that thể cat will be avail- able, if about two montha' time,
It Gives us Pleasure
To Demonstrate The
FIAT 520
SIX-CYLINDERS
A TRULY EXCELLENT CAR
At a Reasonable Price.
Service Station FIAT GARAGE.
and
LANCIA GARAGE ?
Hennessy Rond.
Tel. 24841.
Tel. 23557.
A. GOEKE & Co.
Tel. 22221.
FIAT
AGENTS.
Enjoy free wheeling
today
---all cars must offer it soon!
Spare Parts Dept.
CHINA BUIDING
Fourth Floor.
Tel. 22221.
STUDEBAKER
FREE
REE WHEELING with positive gear control is widely acclaimed as the most important development in auto- molive engineering since the electric starter. The interest displayed in Free Wheeling by visitors at the motor shows, indicates that all new cars must soon adopt this remarkable advance ment. Free Wheeling, as perfected by
'
Studebaker; harnesses momentum and puts it to work-allows the engine to "rest" two miles out of every ter effects a' saving of 12% to 20% In petrol and oil. It enables you to change fromsecond to top silently, at any speed, without using the clutch. The amazing proof awaits you here in your first trial run in any new Studebaker Eight,
THE HONG KONG HOTEL GARAGE
Rold Control
26, Queen's Road.
and at STUBB'Ð ́RD. The Hong Kong ♬ Shanghal Hotels, Ltd.' (Ihoorsdrated in Hongkong)