The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-01-14
BUILDING GOOD ROADS.
Maryland Geological Survey Reports
On Its Share OF Work.
HAS AIDED IN VARIOUS WAYS.
Tested Material For the City and
Counties-Laws For Improved High
waYs-Synopsis of Related Acts.

Clark OF the Johns Hopkins Universe
ty, has just issued the third biennial
report of his highway work. This
report has been prepared by Mr.. A.
n. johnson, highway engineer OF the
survey and gives an account of the
roads which have beeu constructed
during the past two years under the
plans and specifications of the Geo
logical Survey. By the act authori-
zing the highway division of the Geo
logical Survey plans, specifications
and estimates are furnished to the
various boards of county commission
ers or.county road commissioners, as
the case may be, for the construction
of up-to-date roads. 1t has come to
be recognized by many of the pro-
gressive States in recent years that
the construction of modern roads is an
engineering problem that must be
taken up in thoroughly intelligent
Manner and as result highway bu-
reaus, similar to that conducted by
the Geological Survey, are now in
operation in q number of States. The
system is one under which the splen-
did modern highways of Great Brit
ain and the Continent have been
built during the past half century.
The highway report shows that the
Geological Survey has been called on
for.servises by 10 counties during the
past two years as well as by several
cities and towns, particularly by Bal
timore, which has awaited itself large
ly of the laboratory facilities afforded
by the survey staff The counties
which have carried on work to greater
or less extent under the direction of
the survey are Allegany, Baltimore,
Cecil, Garrett, Hartford, Howard,
Montgomery, Prince Georges, Queen
Anne's and st. Marv's county. The
most important work has been car
ried on in Baltimore, Cecil, Hartford,
Howard, Prince Georges and Queen
Anne's counties, where important
pieces Of modern highways have been
constructed
The Geological Survey has prepared
plans and specificatiC for number
OF roads for the road engineer of Bal
timOre county, and an illustration is
given in the report of Eastern avenue,
which is a modern Macadam road
consisting of trap-rock top and Stag
foundation.
The road between Belaire and
Churchville, in Hartford county, is
also a macadam road of modern con
struction, and a picture of this road
is likewise shown in the report. An
other fine piece of macadam highway
is that which is now under construc-
ton near Rising Sun, Cecil county,
which is also pictured in the report
A particularly interesting piece of
road is the section of the Chester
conference.-the road in Queen
Anne's county, which was built of
Stag secured from Sparrows Point ana
which has resulted in hard, smooth
road on one of the worst portions of
this highway
The highway testing laboratory of
the Geological Survey has proved of
great value in the selection of proper
materials for highway construction
and particularly in determining the
relative value of paving brick sub
mitted for city streets. The city of
Baltimore, through the City Engi-
neer's Department., now submits the
various types of vitrifed brick to the
survey for testing prior to their
acceptance. Paving brick vary so
widely in their permanency that this
is regarded as one of the most i'm
portanr phases of the work which the
survey has under its control. Highly
practical tests of great value in con-
crete construction have alRo been de-
vised for cements MANY such tests
made for the City Engineers Depart
menU during the past year are de-
scribed in the report, which contains
an illustration OF the Communicating
machine devised by Mr.. johnson, the
highway engineer of the survey.
The report closes with the foru of
specifications used by the Maryland
Geological Survey and which it ad-
vises all the county officials to employ
in letting contracts for road improve
ment.
A unique feature OF the report is
the suggested outline for "A county
road law. 1t is suggested that there
be established a department of roads,
or Board OF Road Commissioners, to
consist of three persons, one elected
each year to serve three years. 1t is
proposed that there should be a road
engineer who should hold Office dur
ing good behaviour and who should
keep account of all expenditures con
nected with the work, and should
make a detailed annual report of the
same to the board of commissioners.
this report showing under the proper
1,