Albuquerque morning journal., 1910-12-09

on roads. the issuance of bonds for
road Improvement, the drainage OF
roads, and other work along similar
lines. In all, about $50 assignments
were made under this project, show
ing an increase of about 40 per cent
over the amount OF work performed
during the preceding fiscal year This
is satisfactory showing. not alone
because of the increased amount OF
work. but because il indicates that
localities have come to look upon inc
office of public roads as a body OF
consulting engineers and experts who
are ready and able to aid them in the
solution Of their most ditheult ROAD
problems.
Lectures, Addresses and Papers.
The educational work of the office,
Including lectures, addresses and
papers. has been greatly facilitated
and broadened through an extensive
lecture program. These lectures are
in almost all cases given by the same
men who actually direct the invesu-
gative work and the construction ana
maintenance of the object lesson
roads, and are therefore of prac-
tical, instructive character. During
the wear 523 lectures and addresses
were given throughout the United
states. as compared with 1S5 for the
previous year
instruction in Highway Engineering
The office has greatly enlarged and
broadened the project relating to the
instruction of engineer students IN
practical methods of road construction
Iand maintenance The plan provides
for the appointment each year OF
graduate engineers to the position OF
civil engineer student During the
first year of their connection with the
office they are given a most thor
ough training in all branches of tine
work and in many cases are retained
as junior highway engineers. The
office is in constant receipts or re-
quests from states, counties and town
ships TO recommend suitable young
engineers to take charge of road i'm
provement. During the last year nine
engineers, constituting very consid-
cradle percentage of the total num-
ber. resigned to take up work in vari-
Gus parts of the country While the
operations of the office are handi-
capped to a certain extent by TINS
constant drain, the exact purposes OF
this course of instruction are hereby
served in the highest degree. If a
greater number can be appointed and
trained each year, the result VIII in
time have a very material bearing
upon the progress of road improve
ment While the object lesson road
| is an excellent example, capable,
progressive engineer constitutes an
infinitely greater force in the move
ment, as he should reasonably be eX-
pected to go on year after year add
| ing in material sense to the effi-
cheney OF our road systems. This pro-
iect should receive greater financial
support and the number of appoint
ments should. if possible, be doubled
or trebled
Progress of Road Improvement.
The office is assembling reliable
data as to the progress of road I'M
provement in the United States ana
the relation of roads to agriculture.
Through an organization composed of
special agents in all parts of the coun-
try the office win soon be in posi-
tion to receive prompt reports OF
progress along all lines This infor-
nation will be disseminated in such
way that the work in the various
states can be so correlated and co-or-
dinated as to minimize the duplica-
ton which is now so much in evil
dence.
Testing of Road Materials.
In the routine testing and exam
ination of road materials great prog
ress has been made along established
lines. The total number of samples
tested during the year was 1,16S, an
increase of SO per cent over the num-
Der received and tested during the
preceding year. In addition to these
routine tests, Investigations We're made
with q view to the utilization OF Stag
and other by-prOducts in road build
ing and these were extended to com
prise field experiments through the
construction of short sections of road
at Youngstown, Ohio, and Ithaca,
N. Y, These investigations have de-
veloped the fact that practically all
the basic open-hearth slags are we'll
adapted to road construction, es-
pecially when used as binding ma
terials. IT has been found that by
adding quicklime to blast furnace Stag
screenings the cementing properties
are greatly increased. These inves-
legations will be continued during the
next fiscal year.
Cuiverts and Bridges for Highways.
The need for better culverts and
bridges for our public highways is be-
coming evident, both from the point
Of view of economy and safety for
the public. Information on this sub
ject in suitable form has been in the
past, and still remains, fragmentary
and scattered.
BY far the larger number OF such
structures that are needed are of the
shorter spans-fifty feet or less-and
in the past they have been built of
timber, which is, however, constantly
increasing in price, and requires a rel
atiVely much larger expenditure for
maintenance. Much economy can be
effected. and more durable and safer
structures can be built out of con-
crete or masonry. provided that the
required information and skilled
supervision may be had.
Owing to the fact that the indi-
Vidual pieces Of work are small, those
in responsible charge have not felt
warranted in incurring the expense
incident to the employment of skilled
engineering assistants.
such information as Is referred to
above is now being collected and II is
hoped that much of value viii be in
shape for publication and distribution
during the coming fiscal year.
The published information will be
I.sr a