The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-07-01
ADVICE IN ROAD BUILDING
Suggestion of Federal on'cer That
Counties LIQUID Gel Advice of
the Government.

Counties LIQUID Get Advice of
the Government.
Washington, D. c., June 25.-Spe
cial: Logan Waller Page, director O
the office of Public Roads of tn,
United States department OF agricul
ture, has appeared before the state
Legislatures and county boards in va,
rious sections of the country during
the past few months in response te
invitations to tell what methods are
best for obtaining funds for road con.
struction and how the roads should
be maintained after they have once
been secured.
AT the present time there are two
principal methods of raising funds
for these purposes, but Director Page
believes hat before plans are set on
foot for raising funds, much should
be said regarding the manner in
which such funds should be expended.
If the voters of a county show a read
mess to spend a generous sum in i'm
proving their roads, it is of para
mount Importance to them to first
ascertain what class of roads should
be constructed.
1t should not be assumed that sim
ply because a county owns quar-
ries from which trap or limestone
rock can be secured that the expen-
sive macadam road must necessarily
be built. The qualifications of any
rock cannot be definitely decided up
on until laboratory tests have been
held. Much money has been almost
thrown away in this country, how
ever, on the construction of rock-sur-
faced roads, those having the con-
.struction in charge neglecting to call
in the services of expert chemists,
and using rock totally unsuited to
their traffic Or climatic conditions. In
disastrous, the roads quickly travelling
and going to pieces because the ce-
menting value was lacking.
A county which shows sufficient
progress to bond itself in a liberal
amount for the purpose of securing
improved roads should keep it's
money intact until its officers have
learned exactly what class of roads
will best meet ITS requirements; what
type of road it is best qualified to
construct and what it can best afford.
!. hose facts can be secured through
the aid of the national government,
the Office of public roads standing
ready to give gratuitous advice and
to supply skilled highway engineers
who are quauned to tell what type of
highway would best meet that coun-
tvs requirements and to demonstrate
those decisions by supervising the
building of stretches of model high
ways, after which local officials may
take pattern.
W~ide-awake state and county Of
ficials are now showing the liveliest
appreciation of the results which fol-
low a visit by these skillful men. and
he demands for their services are so
heavy that it is impossible for Di-
Page to meet than TWEEN
ty per cent. Of the requests being
E1od IN bio oASoo
When county officers learn to APP
preciate the fact that road building
is an art, they will rely more and
more upon expert advice and scion
tifc demonstration, and when they
have learned what class of roads is
desirable, they will construct them
and then guard them.
Therein lies one of the most i'm
portant of all American questions.
Americans build as good roads as
lInglishmen or Frenchmen, but, hav-
ing done so, they rest contentded
with their effors and let each passing
breath of air, speeding automobile, or
drenching rain blow or wash the
road surface away.
In the countries Of Europe, where
the well-neigh perfect roads are the
pride of the citizens and the envy
and admiration of visiting Ameri-
cans, most jealous care is constantly
given; a careful d%ay-by-day inspec-
ton is made and every depression is
quickly filled and all inequalities
rolled or tamped.
Two requisites, therefore, con-
front the county supervisors at the
outset-frst to ascertain what roads
would be most suitable to that par
ticular section, and to provide for
funds to expend in their maintenance
after completion.