Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-02-21
GOOD ROADS NOTES.


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, at Kingston, and the
papers, announce, with iustifable ex-
ultation, that "this State leads the
world" in such an undertaking.
The course of instruction is to ex-
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-
tunity for the requirement of practi-
cal knowledge. Students, who wish
to enter the course, must be well
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, In the second year, physics,
electricity, physiography, geology,
mineralogy and steam engineering
will be taken. The practical work
will run side by side with the theoret-
ical during the course. 1t will include
actual work on the roads, handling
the shovel, driving horses, running
the stone crusher, traction engine and
road roller, and all mechinery operat-
ed by the department. The student
will thus actually perform all the
varied operations connected with road
building, as well as receive competent
instruction in all that pertains to the
art. In this way, not only will a
large number of young men receive
most valuable training, but a demand
will probably quickly arise for special
instruction for older men, who now
are superintendents 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
competent road-builders all through
the States that have been constructing
macadam highways. In most distances,
either theoretical engineers or highway
superintendents 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 kbeen COM
PEELED to pay for the lack of practical
knowledge of the civil engineers and
the lack of theoretical knowledge of
the 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 man
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 build
a costly, ideal road, but one who can
economically construct an eight-foot
country road-a man who knows both
the theoretical and practical end OF
road construction. This is the style
of graduate which the Rhode Island
institution aims to turn out. II
At the end Of the course, they will
] Sl
the highway, draw the contracts, and
who is able to run the machinery to
build the road; q man who knows the
business from the hoe handle to the
tripod, from shoveling coal under the
boiler of the steam roller to drawing
the plans-a road engineer. al"
There are number of openings
which a practical road-builder may
fill. He may become road expert
for the United States Government.
By passing the civil service examina-
tions of the Road Division, Depart
ment of Agriculture, he will be put on
the list of eligibles, and as soon as q
vacancy occurs will receive an APP
pointment from the Government.
Then, the builders of road machinery
have constant call for men to set up
their plants in the various towns and
cities which are constantly acquiring
such equipments. They have to send
with the machinery men who know all
about operating ii. AS o rule, the
men they send out are shop hands,
and beyond the rule-of-thumb expe-
rience with these identical machines,
they know but little. The builders
say there is O constant demand fol
road builders with these plants, and
that they consider that this is good
field for young men.
''But the largest field for men edu.
Gated as road-builders will probably
be found rs highway superintendent
among the various counties and towns.
There are few first-class men in this
line, and, with the spread of the Coco
Roads movement, the demand fol
such experts is growing"
Road Improvement liens.