THE DUST NUISANCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2696, 29 December 1909, Page 2

THE DUST NUISANCE.

WHAT MELBOURNE EX PE RTS SAY

AN IMPORTANT FINDING

Twelve ;month s ago a conference of the - metropolitan municipal councils was held to consider the question of the prevention or abatement of the dust nuisance. ' At that meeting a committee of seven was appointed to go into the matter. The committee consisted of Alderman Branan (City Council), Councillors Farr (South/ Melbourne), Embling (Prahran), Y heeler (Fitzroy), Allard (Brunswick), Andrews (Hawthorn), Dunbar (Caulfield). with the Town Clerk (Mr John Clayton), and its report was. circulated recently. The completion of the report, it i s stated, lias been delayed to allow of the inclusion in it of extracts from the proceedings of the roads’ conference held in Lo°ndon, under the auspices of the Countv Councils’ Association, oh the subject of road construction, dust prevention, and motor traffic. The committee state that they conferred with the engineers and surveyors of a number of the metropolitan municipalities, a§ well as with Mr W. M. Gordon, the city surveyor of Sydney, and that they had before them the papers read by municipal engineers and surveyors, and other experts, at the London conference. Dealing with road construction the committee says that the utilisation ■ of mineral asphalt and wood block s for road-paving purposes might be said to be the perfection of road construction, both as regarded durability and cleanliness, but the cost of those materials .made their use almost prohibitory except in the principal thoroughfares of the municipality. For road construction generally stone in one or other of its various forms was practically the only material available to the road engineer for the greater portion of his work; and it was to the construction cf macadamised roads or roads laid with pitches or cubes that considerable attention was given. For roads with exceptionally heavy traffic, and for the paving of which, with wood or mineral asphalt, funds were not available, pitchers or cubes well laid and grouted were strongly recommended for their durability, and as productive of a minimum of dust, and, when coated with tar, as capable of being maintained in a condition of cleanliness. The form of construction, known as tar macadam, was carefully consider, ed by the committee, and streets in several districts where this class of work had been carried out were inspected. Tins system was more costly than the ordinary macadamised road, and from the opinions expressed by some of the experts it appeared that, as compared with an ordinarily constructed macadamised road, tlie surface of which had been tar painted, its advantages were not commensurate with that increased cost, whilst it had its disadvantages. With respect to the tar painting of road surfaces the committee states that the system was most strongly advocated by every expert consulted. It was to this class of work that it was felt the municipalities could look for the greatest success in dealing with the dust nuisance. The conclusions and recommendations of the committee are as follows: UNITY OF ACTION. That the whole of the metropolitan councils give the subject cf dust prevention or abatement fullest consideration in connection with the estimates of expenditure for the year; and make provision therein for special expenditure which will enable them to deal with the question'of road surface treatment this summer; and with that of tree-planting and formation of plantation 'reserves in streets during the coming planting season. ROAD CONSTRUCTION. That the method of road construction be based primarily on the traffic which the road has or is likely to have to carry. As this will materially affect the question of cost, the responsibility of making the necessary financial provision must be accepted by the coxmcils and recognised by the ratepayers. That the construction be carried out in the soundest and most thorough manner possible. The evidence of experts shows that in the construction of an ordinary macadamised road greatly improved results and increased life are assured by thoroughness and system in carrying out the work. ROAD MAINTENANCE. That- any partial repairs necessary in the maintenance of roads be carried out in an equally thoiough and systematic ■manner as linclicated in the expert opinions. The practice of throwing down sniall quantities of metal in depressions in the road, and, after covering them with earth, leaving the ordinary traffic of the road to do the duty of road-roller, is disastrous as regards the'durability of the road, the prevention of dust, and the pleasure of the traveller. This practice, where in existence, has probably been adopted under compulsion for; cheapness. This cheapness is not economy. BINDING MATERIAL. That no road construction, reconstruction, or repairs be carried out without the use of a binding material, which will produce a smooth and impermeable road surface. TAR-PAINTING. That the system of tar-painting the road surface be adopted on all roads throughout the whole of the metropolitan municipalities. On this subject there is a concensus of opinion that it is the most efficient means of preventing dust from wear and tear of the roads, or raised by traffic on the roads. A.s has been shown, it also materially increases the life of the road. Tarpainting is productive of the best results when carried out on roads properly constructed and consolidated, .and, preferential! v. roads so constructed should be first treated. Whilst, however, the conference ■ recognises that “worn-out surfaces cannot be saved by applications of tar,” they are strongly of opinion that a considerable expenditure in repairs may be saved, and the complete reconstruction of many roads

may without disadvantage be deferred for a year or two if the roads be tarpainted at once. They, therefore, recommend that, a s far as possible, the moneys usually provided on councils’ estimates for street maintenance (metalling -and repairs), be appropriated for the present, and if necessary the’ following municipal year (in addition, to special votes for the purpose), for extending tar-painting throughout the municipality. This course will at once largely increase the area of non-dust-producing road surface—a. result which will fully justify the comparatively small expenditure incurred. " The conference also recommends economy in the quantity of tar used on this work, being satisfied that better results, substantial reduction in cost, and less frequency of public complaint will ■follow. Much good in the way of dust prevention and cleanliness will result if the surfaces of pitched channels iu the principal streets be tar-painted when the roads are being treated, as the channels can then be readily and effectually flushed. STREET WATERING. Based on the recommendation in regard to tar-painting, and to iije extent that such recommendation i s carried out, the conference strongly recommends the abolition of regular street watering as being injurious to the road surface. With regard to ordinary macadamised roads not tar-painted, the 1 conference recommends that streetwatering should only be carried out in the form of light sprinkling, and during extreme weather. Frequent hehvy watering of such roads and the use of hydrants thereon cannot be too strongly deprecated. The committee strongly urge that every pound that can be saved in this direction can be more advantageously expended in carrying out some of the other works recommended in this report, all of which works are of a more permanent character. The watering of street channels by the side spray is strongly recommended. STREET-CLEANSING. The committce’ s recommendations under this head are: —The extension of the ‘‘orderly” system of wood-paved and other hard, smooth surface streets to ensure the quick collection and removal of horse manure. The use of mechanical sweepers. The use of covered carts for the collection and removal of all street sweepings, house refuse, and garbage. That the use of the ordinary revolving road-sweeper should in dry and windy weather be preceded by a light-sprinkling water-cart. The flushing .when necessary in dry weather, at night or in the early morning, of the principal streets which are woodpaved or otherwise have impermeable surfaces.

TREE-PLANTING AND PLANTA-

TIONS

Tbe committee feel that it is to this phase of the subject that the councils must look for benefit and protection against the dust brought into their districts from outside areas and open lands. They recommend the greatest possible extension of tree-planting in streets, particularly those running north and south. There is scarcely a public roadwaj* of reasonable width in which it would not be advantageous to plant at least a single row of trees. The planting of a centre row of trees in addition to the side planting in such of the wider streets a s local conditions will permit. The construction of small plantation reserves with trees and shrubs at the intersection of streets. The cultivation of grass on the unmade portions of road and footway surfaces, particularly in the outer districts. The committee feel sure that the additional expense necessary for maintenance under this heading will be more than counterbalanced by the lesser road construction, maintenance, and cleansing necessary consequent on the carrying out of ttiia work. GENERAL.

The committee’s remaining recommendations are: —The adoption of a standing rule, that before any road is reconstructed an intimation be given to the gas, water, telegraph, and other authorities having .services in the streets, so that those bodie s may have an opportunity of examining dr relaying such services. This would prevent the necessity for breaking up the new-ly-constructed road for the purpose of dealing with any of such services. A road so broken up is never restored to its original condition. That each of the municipal councils will put in hand at once and to the fullest extent possible such of the recommendations as meet with their approval. That to enable this to be done to a greater extent than the estimated ordinary revenue for the year will permit, fullest consideration be given by the several councils as to the extent to which these works can legally and expediently be carried out by loan moneys.