The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-02-12
GOOD ROADS NOTES,
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES


"A Course of Instruction in Road Building.
A most excellent departure has been
made in Rhode Island, where course
Of instruction in practical road-build-
ing has been instituted in the Agri-
cultural College, OF Kingston, and the
papers announce, with justifable ex-
ultation, that "this State leads the
world'' in such an undertaking.
The course of instruction is to cS-
tend over two years. In the class
room, theoretical instruction will be
provided, and the road-making plant
of the college will furnish ample oppor-
tuniiy for the requirement Of practi-
cal knowledge Students, who wish
to enter the course, must be we'll
grounded in the common branches,
including algebra and geometry.
During the first year, the course will
include higher geometry, trigonome-
try, surveying and other English
studies, lii the second year, physics,
electricity, photography, geology,
mineralogy and steam engineering
will be taken. Tho practical work
will run side by side with the theoret-
zeal during the course. It will include
actual work on the roads, handling
the shovel, driving horses, running
the Stone crusher. traction engine and
road roller, and all machinery operat-
ell by the department.. The student
will thus actually perform all the
varied operations connected with road
building, as we'll as receive competent
instruction in all that pertains to tho
art. In this way, not only will o
large number Of young men receive
most valuable training, but demand
will probably quickly arise for special
instruction for older men, who now
are superintendent Of streets, COM
missioners Of highways and engineers.
There is here field which is not
yet crowded, or even full, AS the
Providence Journal remarks, "of late
years there has been demand for
competent road-builders all through
the States that have been constructing
macadam highways. In most instances,
either theoretical engineers or highway
superintendent have risen to fill the
places. And to the SORROW and costs
of the big cities and the disappoint-
ment Of the counties, in many in
stances, the latter have sheen COM
PEELED to pay for the lack Of practical
knowledge Of the civil engineers and
the lack of theoretical knowledge OF
tho highway supervisors.
''But, even with this school Of men,
who have been educated by building
the roads, there have not been enough
, to go around in all the localities where
good roads are needed, and where
, there is money to build them. A maj
who thoroughly understands road con
struction to-day may easily get posi-
ton. What is needed is the educated
man, who not only knows how to buil(
a costly, ideal road, but one who cal
economically construct an eight.loo
} country road-a man who knows boil
the theoretical and practical end o
/ road construction. This is the styl
Of graduate which the Rhode ISLAM
institution aims to turn out.
. At the end Of the course, they will
. have graduated man who can pla
: the highway, draw the contracts, an
who is able to run the machinery t
build the road; q man who knows til
. business from the hoe handle to tn
5 tripod, from shoveling coal under til
boiler of the steam roller to drawn
the plans-a road engineer. u!
'There are q number of opening
/ which practical roaa-builder ma
$ fill. He may become d road exper
q for the United States Government
: By passing the civil service examino
;. tons of tho Road Division, Depar
y ment OF Agriculture, he will be put Q
}. the list of eligibles, and as soon as
q vacancy occurs will receive an 81
d pointment from the Government
n Then. the builders Of road machine1
IS have q constant call for men to set u
their plants in the various towns al
q cities which are constantly acquirir
70 such equipments. They have to sci
ic with the machinery men who know
re- about operating it. As q rule, tt
to men they send out ere shop hand
Mt and beyond the rule-of-thum exp
Ii rience with these identical machine
they know but little. The bullde
saw there is constant demand t
- road builders with these plants, al
y. that they consider that this is go
"a field for young men.
~ "But the largest field for men ed
NV Gated as road-b builders will probab
~, ~ be found as highway superintendent
w. among the various counties and tow
~ There are few frst-class men IN Il
line, and, with the spread OF the 10
or Roads movement, the demand
- such experts is growing"
ey -
ill Road Improvement Items.
nd Permanent structures require so