Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-01-16
FOR BETTER highways.
A Synopsis of the Work Ac-
compIishad by the Mary
land Geological
Survey.

Survey.
The Maryland Geological Survey,
which is conducted under the direction
of Prof. William Bullock Clark. of the
Johns Hopkins University. has just
issued the third biennial report of its
highway work. This report has been
prepared by Mr.. A. N. johnson, high
way engineer of the survey, and gives
an account of the roads which have
been constructed during the past two
years under the plans and specifications
of the Geological Survey. BY the act
auth rizing the highway division of the
Geological Survey plans, specifications
and estimates are furnished to the
various boards of county commissioners
or county road commissioners. as the
case may be, for the construction of up.
to-date roads. 1t has come to be recog-
nized by many of the progressive States
recent years that the construction of
modern roads is an engineering problem
intelligent manner. and as result high
way bureaus, similar to that conducted
by the Geological Survey, are now in
operation in a number of States. The
system is one under which the splendid
modern highways of Great Britain and
the Continent have been built during
/ tho N. or half cauturv
TEN COUNTIES APPLIED TO SURVEY.
| The highway report shows that the
Geological Survey has been called on
for services by 10 counties during the
past two years as we'll as by several
cities and towns. particularly by Balti-
more. which has availed itself largely 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
sAllegany, Baltimore. Cecil. Garrett,
Hartford, Howard. Montgomery. Prince
Georges. Queen Anne's and st. Mary's
counties. The most important work
1 HAS Utcu CdTIlcu Ou III ScCii,
Hartford, Howard, Prince Georges and
Queen Anne's counties, where impor-
tant pieces of modern highways have
been constructed.
The Geological Survey has pr pared
plans and specifications for number of
roads for the Road Engineer of Balti-
more county, and an illustration is given
in the report of Eastern avenue, which
is modern macadam road. consisting
of trap-rock top and Stag founda-
ton.
OTHER EXAMPLES OF GOOD ROADS.
The road between Belair and Church
vile. in Hartford county. is also a
macadam road of modern construction,
and a picture of this road is likewise
shown In the report. Another fine
piece of macadam highway is that
which is now under construction near
Rising Sun, Cecil county, which is also
pictured in the report. A particularly
interesting piece of road Is the section
of the Chestertown-C -Centerville road in
Queen Anne's county, which was built
of Stag secured from Sparrows Point and
which has resulted in hard. smooth
road on one of the worst portions of this
highway.
| TESTING LABORATORY USEFUL.
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 submitted for
city streets. The city of Baltimore.
through the City Engineers Depart
ment, now submits the various types
of vitritied brick to the survey for test.
ing prior to their acceptance. Paving
brick vary so widely in their permanency
that this is regarded as one of the most
important phases of work which the
survey has under its control. Highly
practical tests of great value in concrete
construction have also been devised for
cements Many such tests made for the
City Engineers Department during the
past year are described in the report,
which contains an illustration of the
cement testing machine devised bv Mr..
johnson, the highway engineer of the
survey.
The report closes with the form of
specifications used by the Maryland
Geological Survey and which it advises
all county officials to employ in letting
contracts for road improvements.
GOOD ROAD LAW OUTLINED.
A unique feature of the report is the
suggested outline for a county road law.
1t is suggested that there be established
department of roads, or Board Of
Road Commissioners, to consist of three
persons, one elected each year to serve
three years. L: is proposed that there
should be a road engineer who should
hold office during good behavior and
who should keep account of all expendi
lures connected with the work. and
should make a detailed annual report of
the same to the board commissioners,
4 this rannrt shaving under the nronar