Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-06
clerk. and Philip L. wormeley, testing

clerk. ana Fhlllp L. WoIUeiey' eeS'A"e
In addition to these officials in Washing
ton, the bureau has about fifty agents IN
the field. including engineers. lecturers
and practical road builders. who are en-
gagged in instructlng and directing local
authorities in the work Of improvement.
Altogether one hundred and thirteen OBJ
tect-lesson roads have been constructed
in thirteen states. as follows: Twelve IN
Ohio. eight in North Carolina, seven in
Florida. South Carolina and Virginia. re-
spectively. four each in Georgia, Ken
lucky, Louisiana. and Maryland. three
each in Arkansas. Michigan. New York
and Washington. two each In the ns-
trict of Columbia Kansas. Minnesota
Mississippi Nebraska. New Jersey. North
Dakota and Texas, and one each in Iowa.
Rhode Island. Vermont, West virginia
and Wisconsin.
Education Of the People.
One Of the most important branches OF
the work of the bureau is the education
Of the people. and in this the ofiacials are
receiving the cooperation of more than
2,6O0 county newspapers, which print In
almost every issue articles prepared for
them by the engineers and other experts
concerning the best materials for road
building and the best methods Of using
them: how to repair roads and keep them
in order, and other Information ana sug-
gestions of immediate and practical local
value. The newspapers are also publish
ing regularly arguments. facts and statis-
tics to show the advantages OF the i'm
provement Of the highways to the farm
ers, merchants and to all the consumers
as we'll as other classes OF the popuiation.
In that way the bureau reaches between
six and seven million people every week
with its propaganda
Mr.. Page tells me that the bicycle has
been the most important ana inhuehtia!
missionary of all that have been engaged
in promoting the good roads movement
The League Of American Wheelmen has
been the most potent organization. ne
says and has done an immense amount
of good work, not only In educating the
people and in stirring up local omcials
to improve the roads, but IN Organising
agencies to that end. Everybody, almost
has ridden a bicycle at one time or an
other within the last twelve or fifteen
years. and every bicycle rider realized the
advantages Of having good roads ana old
his best to get Them
Effect of the Automobile.
The automobile is not such an important
ally On the other hand. the increase In
automobile traffic has made the dust prob
lem more serious than ever before. The
loss to macadamized roads from the dust
material that is ground up and blown
away, as we'll as in loosening the sur
face by the heavy impact of the rubber
tires, is a serious menace to their preser-
walton. The automobile is the worst
enemy of the macadamized road. num-
Der of methods for protecting their sur
face so that they shall not be injured
by the wheels of automobiles have been
suggested, and many preparations ana
crude materials have been Investigated
with view to preventing or diminishing
the damage. Experiments are now going
on in various sc ctions of the country
which may result i'm counteracting the
damage that is being done.
The rural free delivery system has been
an important ally and the rural delivery
carriers are doing great deal OF good
the Post Office Department, which In
variably calls upon the good roads ofice
for advice Under the present arrange
ment, when a rural free delivery route
is reported as impossible, or in bad re-
pair, the Post Office Department notifies
the office of public roads and the serv-
ices of an engineer or experienced road
builder are rendered to the local officials
for the purpose of directing the work
placing the road in proper condition. The
services of these men have been eagerly
accepted as a rule. and have resulted In
much benefit to the public and to the rural
delivery service because the Post Office
Department will suspend the delivery of
mail upon a route that Is condemned
by it's officials.
The railroads of the couptry, Mr.. Page
says. are giving the department much
valuable assistance, although under the
new rate bill they are prohibited from
furnishing free transportation for either
men or materials Formerly all the rail-
roads in the country were very generous
in furnishing passes to the engineers and
and in hauling material and ma
and several of them made up
ciaI trains for the use of the engineers
who went about instructing people in the
science of road building The law for
bids all such gratuitous transportation
now, but the railway companies appreci-
ate that the work the Department of
is doing is of vital Importance
to their prosperitys and are cooperating
In every lawful way.