The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-03-06
PROF. HAUPT'S ADDRESS.
1.-The Highways of Hartford and How to I'm
DrOye Them.v

"The Highways of Hartford and How to I'm
prove Them"
You have done me the honor of requesting
me to address you on the subject of road
making, and il has given me pleasure to ac-
cept your invitation, that, as an engineer, l
might embrace the opportunity 10 aid in the
good work Of improving the general condi-
ton of your highways.
l say, "as an engineer" because of the pre-
vailiug opinion that any one who can delve
or plough can build a road. But this is an
error which has led to incalculable mischief
and waste in many directions, us / shall hope
to show. There is great deal of self-assur-
auce in the American character and it asserts
itself in many ways, yet, l think not always
wisely. Our American method of building
roads is radically defective in that it places
the executive authority for these works in
the hands of men selected, not because of
any peculiar qualifications for the work, but
simply because of their popularity or in
fluence. Excellent men and good citizens
though they may be, yet without special
training and plenary authority over their
levies, the results must be unsatisfactory and
wasteful.
ROAD ENGINEERING NEEDED.
While poets may be born, not made, road
growth or development, based upon study
and experience combined. A good road-mak-
er should be man of liberal education, of
broad views, of excellent judgment, en-
dowed with authority so vested as not to be
abused. One principal reason why our roads
are no better is because we do not give them
the intelligent supervision they need and be-
cause we are too jealous Of the limited au-
thority placed in the hands of those elected
to supervise them.
What, for example, would be thought Of a
man who would call in lawyer to admins
ter an antidote to bis sick child, or who
would invite doctor to adjust claim for
damages, or a minister to tell him how to
cure and harvest crop? But when it comes
to engineering, 80 far as it applies to road
building, that is matter which the embryo
is presumed to know all about, since he can
cut down trees, remove rocks and stumps,
dig bitches and throw up the sod and humus
into nicely crowned bed. This, however,
is merely the mechanical part of construction,
and is but small part of the general prob
lem of opening up line of least resistance
between two points.
The Engineering problem is far more COM
prehensive and includes:
/. The location-or the finding OF line,
which will require the least work in construc-
ton, consistent with the shortest distance
the best, that is, lowest grade; suitable foun-
dation and material, and which will accom-
modate the greatest traffic with the least
damage to property.
2. The construction-requiring a careful
consideration of the relation of the load 10
the resistance offered by various soils under
different conditions; the physical properties
of the materials available, as their proper
sizes, form, distribution, arrangement and
adaptation 10 the purpose, and above all, spe-
cial attention to thorough system of drain
age for both surface and subsoil waters:
8. The operation-comprising the rela-
ton of the power to the resstances, as meas
ured by the cost of movement over various
kinds of surface; the durability of the sur
face the mechanical resstances; the effects
of grade and other requirements.
4. The maintenance-as affected by the
character and amount of traffic, width of
Tires, kind of power used, character and cost
of metaling, method of preparing and apply
ing the same, consistency and care taken in the
supervision and many other elements.
/ And in addition to these scientific, physi-
cal and mechanical features there are the le-
gal legislative, financial and social ones, all
of which form part Of this complicated ques-
ton. Certain it Is that the old method of
treating this important economic question by
leaving it to each locality to work out its
own salvation by local and individual meth
DDS, has not produced satisfactory result,
and the highways of commerce are throttled
with mud.
The elements entering into the compost
ton of road are earth, water and stone, but
it is no more possible for an amateur TO COM
bine them into good road than it is tor a
novice to mix batch Of Aour, water, salt and
yeast into good bread, Even good receipt
will not answer the purpose unless accom-
panied by q practical demonstration based
upon experience, But where every one learns
| by his own experience it becomes extrava-
CANT, especially when it has to be repeated
every few years, as under our existing laws.
have given more time ta this matter Of
skilled supervision thar had, intended, be.
cause l believe i 70 te the first and most inn
pertant stsR, towards the goal of good roads
Hpolitics and put into more permanent hands
we must go on, wasting money without OBJ
tanning better results.
i wHAT oTR ROADS COST.
In 8 problem of such great scope II be-
comes difficult 10 conder Sc all that should be
!! said into the limits ascrihed TO lecture, but
| it may be best to take general view of the
situation first, leaving the technical details
for after consideration.
What then are the Highways of Hartford
They are not merely the earth roads dedi
icated to the public, but comprehend all the
lines of communication embraced within the
county. In this respect you are exceptional.
ly fortunate, for 10 . territory of four hund
and eighty (4S0) square miles or 307 200 acres
you have three railroads, with total length
oG5f miles, a Underwater canal extending along
the eastern border for about 10 miles, navi,
gable water frontage aggregating about "a