Not bombs fell on Monte Carlo but the new type of automobiles rattled with explosion engines, clouds of dust behind them, over the water-bound gravel roads. The question arose how to reduce the ever-increasing dust plague. On March 12, 1902, the newly founded Monte Carlo Medical Society held a meeting. It presented Prince Albert of Monaco. The speaker at this meeting was Dr. Guglielminetti. In the following. Discussion, Prince Albert lamented the plague of dust caused by automobile traffic and appealed to Dr. Guglielminetti to focus his attention more on the nearest environment in the future. His complaint culminated in the words: “Where has our beautiful sun-drenched Rivera disappeared to? Since cars have been speeding along our streets, we breathe dust from dawn to dusk. Our once colorful flora seems dull and fresh flowers no longer exist” While looking back on this speech, memories of his medical work flashed through Dr. Guglielminetti’s mind. He saw himself standing in Java on smooth-rubbed hospital floors. These floors were coated with tar to make them waterproof and easily washable. He also recalled an incident he had observed a short time ago. A damaged tar drum had leaked on the access road to the Monaco gas plant. Spontaneously, Dr. Guglielminetti proposed to use the coal tar from the gas plant for the dust binding of the roads there, instead of dumping this cheap waste product in the sea. The answer of the Prince: ” Dr. Guglielminetti, the gas plant is at your disposal”. The first test was carried out immediately on the following day, i.e. on 13.03.1902. On a road near the gas plant, tar heated in a boiler was spread on the road surface with brooms over the length of 40 m. The tar was then used as a fuel. On the following day, the tarring, which had cooled down in the meantime, could be opened to traffic with horse-drawn vehicles, pushcarts and automobiles. The doctor observed the road for weeks and found that it held up and remained dust-free-and he realized : tarring not only binds the dust, but it can also help extend the life of road pavements.
The press in Nice reports: Goudronnage des Routes
Dr. Guglielminetti was so sure of his cause that he gave a lecture on the experiment to the Monaco Tourist Board on April 19, 1902, in order to present his related considerations to the public. His pioneering work and his subsequent activities resulted in asphalt roads made with tar and natural asphalt in such important cities as Paris, London, Berlin, which gave a pioneering impetus to the construction of automobile roads.