Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-06-02
Good Roads.
To The Editor of The Alexandria Gazet,

To the Editor Of The Alexandria Gazette:
In my first article l criticised the pre-
sent method of superintendent of
country roads. In this shall endeav-
or to give my idea of a proper system
Of superintendent.
County roads should not be built or
maintained except under the immedi
ate supervision of competent and prac-
tical civil engineers who will devote
their time and attention to this branch
of the profession. Just rs special
training is needed in the departments
of railway construction, railway main
tenance, sewerage, &c, so is special
training needed in the department of
highway construction and maintenance.
We have sufficient number of bright
young engineers in the State who could
bring to this department minds already
trained to think and work in the gener-
al line necessary for successful work on
the highways, who would soon be able
to cope with the highway engineers OF
New Jersey, Massachusetts and New
York. These men could be secured for
reasonable prices and the results OF
their efforts would soon be apparent.
Some States have as the head of this
organization highway commission,
composed chiefly of engineers, some a
State engineer. In either case all gen
eral plans for road Improvement are
passed upon by the chief of the depart
ment. In other words the organization
should be as thorough as in tirst-class
railway construction or maintenance.
The expense of an engineer TO each
county would be about 800 per month,
this divided among the road districts
would be about $40 from each. No one
doubts the failure of the present system
of superintendent; something else
must be substituted. What else can be
cheaper? What else promises such
good results?
The letting and construction of high
way bridges should be under, at least,
the advice of the engineer. Under the
present system "drummers" for bridge
companies appear before the supervis-
ors, show pretty pictures, do good talk
ing about strains, stresses and factors
of safety" sell bridge for as much
money as they can get, and then
STRAINS, stresses and factors of safety
become secondary to the bridge COM
panys profits. A combination is usual
iy formed which makes the competi-
tive feature of the letting apparent only
on the surface. Because of the lack of
technical knowledge on the part of the
supervisors (who do the best they know
how, counties have been continually
paying too much money for inferior
bridges. The engineers professional
knowledge would make the bridge
companies bring their figures to prop
er amount, and complete their work
according to the standard specitica-
tions.
There are many other incidental du-
ties such as the design, superintendent
of construction OF public buildings, &C.,
which would properly belong to the
department of the county engineer,
and which would ensure to the county
better work and cheaper. But the
chief duty of the county engineer
would be in that much neglected field
ofroads. 1t, really, does not seem nec-
essary to argue at length for the en-
ployment of engineers in this work.
The experience of States that have
tried it prove the matter beyond con-
troversy.
1t is perhaps not practicable to intro
duce all at once a complete State organ
ization. 5ut beginning can be made.
Let one II two counties try it and the
results i'll soon become so apparent as
to com ,el the final consummation of
the plan. Do not say that your county
cannot afford to experiment. In my
next article l propose to take Mount
Vernon District in Fairfax county as
an example and show no money can
possibly be wasted in the experiment,
but that, on the contrary, better results
are sure to follow, and that with no in
crease of tdrdtiOn. Several papers have
kindly noticed my preceding articles.
l hope both newspapers and individuals
will comment upon my views either
publicly or privately. l feel deep in
terest in this matter and propose to en-
deavor to promote reforms in this line.
You may have better idea than mine
Give it to the public.
II. w. NEwBY, Alexandria, Va.