Modern Road Building Using Concrete Paving Forms

The following from a Muskegon, Michigan paper will be of interest to local people as the item concerns G. P. Scharl, a former Port Washington boy: A world’s record has been established by G. P. Scharl, contractor who is constructing the 14 miles of federal aid road on the Cedar Springs highway out of Muskegon. The record was established recently by Mr. Scharl for one day’s construction of concrete. According to many road builders who have visited the scene of operations, the plant of the local contractor is the largest in the country today. Experts from various parts of the country have come to Muskegon to watch the operations of the Scharl plant. Trade magazines especially are devoting much attention to his work and equipment. It is declared to be by far the most complete and improved plant in operation, and really marks a new era in construction of concrete roads.

The road is entirely constructed by machinery. No hands touch the materials or concrete from the time it is placed in the cars and shipped, until the road is completed. Everything is done by machinery, even to the unloading of material into the smaller cars, which are moved by a locomotive along the road to the scene of operations.

Mr. Scharl started operations two months ago, August 20, 1920 and although his machinery was idle three weeks at one time and for several days at another, he has constructed five miles of 18 foot road, starting at the half-way house and working toward Muskegon. He is now near the Muskegon County home. In other words, he has constructed a mile of concrete highway every week of actual operation. If he could have obtained material this summer he would have completed the entire 14 miles of highway this fall.

The actual construction of the road is but one of the interesting improvements worked out by Mr. Scharl. The unloading of the large cars and the movement of this material to the scene of operation is another big feature. The large cars of material are unloaded by means of an improved clam caterpillar and a tunnel. To the eye the tunnel is not noticeable. However, 48 openings are provided into the tunnel, where the small cars are run. Through these openings the cars are unloaded. The caterpillar also furnishes the motive power for switching at the tunnel, while the tunnel is lighted by electricity generated at the plant. The tunnel is 300 feet in length. The small cars are then moved by a small engine over temporary tracks to the scene of distribution. Here the small cars are hoisted by means of machinery into the cement mixer, which has a maximum capacity of 12 bags of cement, 36 feet of gravel and 18 feet of other material.

The concrete is then taken from the mixer by machinery and distributed while another machine of improved type does the construction work. Roadmen say that this machine builds much better road than can be done by human hands. This machinery moves under its own power as the road is constructed.

On the day in question that the world’s record was established, Mr. Scharl laid 2,046 square yards of concrete or 1,023 feet of 18-foot concrete highway. The record was held by a man named Parish at Parish, Illinois who constructed 744 feet of 16-foot highway in one day.

The plant had been called the “child” of the brain of Mr. Scharl. Several of the patents are held by Mr. Scharl. While the big concrete mixer is no doubt the most interesting part of the equipment, the heart of the organization, according to Mr. Scharl, is the “Big End” as Mr. Scharl expresses it, the central proportioning plant of the tunnel.

The supervisors yesterday visited the local plant and watched the operations. Almost daily road builders from various parts of the country visit the Scharl plant to watch the operations.

Mr. Scharl expects to make Muskegon his future home.