Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-03-07

graduates OF schools of engineering
The way to get into the college is tt
apply to the civil service commission
Washington. d. c.. for circulars of in
struction, and it should be done al
once, because the next examination
takes place this month.
One of the most important branches
Of the work of the bureau is the edu-
cation of the people. and in this the
officials are receiving the cooperation
of more than 1900 country newspapers
which print in almost every issue ar
ticles prepared for them by the engin-
GERS 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 or
der. and other information and sug-
gestions of immediate and practical
local value. The newspapers are also
publishing regularly arguments. facts
and statistics to show the advantages
of the Improvement of the highways to
the farmers, merchants and to all 9th
err classes of the population. 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 and influ-
entail missionary of all that have been
engaged in promoting the good roads
movement The League Of American
Wheelmen has been the most potent
organization, he says, and has done an
immense amount of good work. not
only in educating the people and In
stirring up local officials to Improve
the roads. but in organizing agencies
to that end. Everybody, almost. has
ridden Il bicycle at one time or anoth-
err within the last twelve or fifteen
years. and every bicycle rider realized
the advantages of having good roads
and did his best to get them.
The automobile is not such an Inn
portant ally On the other hand, the
increase in automobile traffic has made
the dust problem 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 surface by the heavy
impact of the rubber tires. is serious
menace to their preservation. The au-
tomoble is the worst enemy Of the
macadamized road A number of
methods for protecting their surface so
that they shall not be injured by the
wheels of automobiles have been sug-
gested. and many preparations and
crude materials have been investigated
with view to preventing or dimin-
ishing the damage. Experiments are
now going on in various sections Of the
country. which may result in counter
acting 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 by reporting bad places
in the roads to the postoffice depart
ment. which invariably calls upon the
good roads office for advice. Under
the present arrangement. when a rural
free delivery route Is reported as i'm
passabe or in bad repair, the post
office department notifies the office Of
public roads and the services of an
engineer or experienced roadbuilder are
rendered to the local officials for the
purpose of directing the work of plac-
ing the road in proper condition. The
services of these men have been eager
ly accepted as a rule. and have re-
suited in much benefit to the public
and to the rural delivery service be-
cause the postoffice department will
suspend the delivery of mail upon a
route that is condemned by its Off
Gals.
The railroads of the country. Mr..
-