The Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-11-05, Page 42-;VICHFIMPM
Modern machines
still serve princiPte
GSS/Wednesday, Nov 5, 1986
that the cost of laying 100 bricks rose
from approximately 90 cents to a
level of about $6.40. That is, while
the most of moving a yard of earth
varied very little over the forty
years and in fact, costs less to -day
than it did in 1920, the cost of laying
100 bricks rose over 700 percent.
When we examine the first
c uipmcnt used for earth rnn"ing
and follow it through its.evolutionary
stages, we find that there is no basic
difference in principle between the
primitive hand shovel and the
modern, mechanized power shovel
or between the primitive scraper
andthe huge modern scraper or
between what was used for
bulldozing earth in the horse and
buggy era and the modern, powerful
bulldozer. The real difference lies in
the enormously increased productive
capacity, and the emancipation of
labour.
It is to be noted that this
emancipation of labour had its
impact in other areas of road
building.
When the first concrete pavements
were built, both the subgrade and
the mixing of materials were done
by hand. Wooden forms were used
and when the first mixers appeared,
the sand and stone were brought to
the mixer in wheelbarrows and both
the spreading and the finishing were
also done by hand.
The modern paving equipment is
largely automatic with automatic
control of timing and of batches,
mechanical spreaders and finishers
are used and the subgrade is
prepared by machines and the forms
arc rtecl
The improvement in equips„Cut tor
laying black top road surfaces was
just as great. In the beginning of
building asphalt roads, it was a
very simple procedure. Rocks were
broken up, either by hand or by
machine and were covered with
liquid asphalt by hand, tamped or
rolled into place and thus became
our first asphaltic road. However, as
more roads became necessary, it
was found that this was too
expensive an operation and the
ingenuity of man came to the front
and the first asphalt plant was
designed and built. In those days, an
average batch was 500 lbs., through
a pugmill mixer.
Asphalt plants continued with very
little change, for the next 15 to 20
years until the advent of flat screens
as compared to the rotary type. This
speeded up the capacity of the
asphalt plant to such a degree that
Equipment
Pioneers "paved” their roads with tree trunks which became known as corduroy.
to -day we have plants of a size never
dreamed of 25 or 30 years ago, which
are capable of producing 6,000 to
10,000 lb. batches.
For the maintenance of highways,
many new types of equipment had
also to be developed such as snow
plows, and snow blowers. We saw
that, in pioneer days, snow was a
help in making the blazed trails and
corduroy roads passable in winter
but snow roads are now a hindrance
in winter travel and Canadians
spend millions of dollars each winter
for snow removal.
To spread the sand and salt on icy
roads to prevent accidents, rotary
equipment had to be developed to do
a fast and efficient job. Because of
the dense traffic and high speeds,
the driving lanes have to be marked
with a paint containing glass so the
marking can be seen at night time
as well as in daylight and centre
striping apparatus had to be
developed, since it was impossible to
paint the huge mileage required by
hand and the marking was
absolutely necessary as a safety
measure.
Congratu1atonsChampion!
Schaefer's Ladies Wear Ltd. take pleasure in saluting Champion Road `
Machinery Company on their 100th birthday.
Like Champion, we are a long-established family -operated business. Fifty-
seven years ago, George W. Schaefer arrived in Goderich to operate a, corner
grocery store on the Square. In 1929, George purchased the S.A. Gray Co. (now
Ross Shoes), a dry goods store, which he directed until 1962. At this time, the
business was moyed to the former site of Acheson' purchased by Mr. Schaefer.
In 1962, John Schaefer succeeded his father as president of Schaefer's Ladies
Wear Ltd. continuing to offer customers the quality and service that has become
their trademark.
In 1979,'Johd`'s daughter, Louise Bray, joined the firm and together they look
ahead to many years of service and wish Champion another successful century ;.
in, Goderich.
"Serving Goderich and Area for 57 Years"
162 Shopper's Square, Goderich 524-7232
GEORGE W.
JOHN A. SmiltigoilfiiE
LOU'