The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-09-11
GOOD ROADS.
What Department Of Agriculture
is Planning.
SYSTEM NOW ADVISED

Appointment OF Committees on very
Phase of the Work-Dcpartmen
Intends Raising the Standard in
Every State to That of New Jersey
and Massachusetts, Said to be the
Highest in the World.
The United States department Of
agriculture is opening a campaign
for the Improvement ofroads trough
CIT the country. The department
intends to use every means in its
power to raise the standard Of the
roads in every State to equal, 1t not
surpass, the standard which preVaslts
in New Jersey and Massachusetts
said to be the highest in the Worlo.
In a letter on the suoJec just Is
sued by the department the plans are
outlined in detail. :
The letter of the department Of
agriculture is as follows:
.Statistics recently compiled by
th;s office show that there are nearly
100000 miles of public roads in
this country, only a small percents
age of which are improved Neces-
sarilv it will be many years before a
large percentage of this great mile
age will be improved. An eXpendi-
ture Of nearly $50. 900, 900 per annum
is being applied to the maintenance
Of these roads, and it is safe to say
that the loss from improper methods
is well up in the millions.
There are certain principles which
underlie the art Of road building and
maintenance. and certain methods
known to many engineers and road
builders which are easily put into
practice. Unfortunately, these SIM
ple principles and methods are not
universally known.
In explanation Of our plan we IN
vite attention to the following tenta-
tive outline:
"The organization on the part OF
the local communities of associations
designed to bring about an improve
ment of the public roads in the re-
soective counties and townships;
these associations to have definite
aim aud to have sections or commit.
tees somewhat along the following
lines:
COMMITTEE on road administra
ton: This committee should ascer
tain the revenue for road purposes
how derived, how expended, wha'
accounting system is followed, undel
what laws the work is being carried
on: what organization exists; make
recommendations for reform in roac
laws, organization, systems of &C
counting, etc.
Committee on road materials
This committee should ascertain the
location, character, quality and avail
ability Of all road materials IN the
county, cost of transportation anc
make recommendations as to wheth
er the source of supply should be Sc
cured by the county, and any othe!
pertinent information and sugges
tions bearing upon the subject o:
road materials.
COMMITTEE on road construction
and maintenance: This committee
should ascertain mileage of all pub
lie roads; classify them according tc
amount of traffic and Importance;
ascertain what improvement is nee.
essary; the probable cost;.draw up q
general planfor the gradualimprove,
ment of all the country roads along
definite, intelligent lines according
to the means available. It should ob-
tain data bearing upon all phases OF
road construction and should cooper
eat closely with the committee OF
road materials in drawing up its rec.
concentrations as to the kind and
amount of road construction to be
undertaken. It should make close
study Of road maintenance with a
view to introducing the best and most
economical methods in the treatment
of common roads and should famili-
arize itself with all classes of road
equipment and recommend such as
are best adapted to the local condl-
tions.
Committee on ways and means:
The aim Of this committee should be
to uphold and further the work Of
the other committees by devising
plans for financing the association
and for carrying out the various
lines Of work indicated.
The Office Of public roads, after
the proper organization has been in
augurated as above described or
when requested by the local author
tiles will so far as its limited appro-
priation and personnel will permit,
assign lecturers in such manner as
will best meet the requirements of
the local situation, and Will further
the efforts of the various commit
tees of the association by assigning
experts on road administration and
accounting, road materials and road
construction, who will, under the di-
rection Of the county association,
make thorough investigation along
the respectives lines above set forth.
The part Of the Office of public
roads in this general plan ~ay be
said to conform to the follow .ng Sc
quence: Government publications,
lectures, expert Investigations, re-
ports and advice, where a plan cf
road improvement has been decided
upon, a practical demonstration Of
road building and temporary road
school to instruct the local men in
the principles and methods Of road
building.
The plan of cooperation of the