The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-04-12

methods of asccraniup the costs of
road work The Hust method is to
I find them after the work is completed
the second method iH ta ascertain
them before the work BIS undertaken
The first method is the old one. the
second method is the Now one. and
which is now being adopted iu an
municipalities where progress is the
keynote, and where its feasibility and
practical value have already been fully
demonstrated. The importance of cor.
road supervisor can hardly be over
estimated. as the economic manten-
ance of roads and buildings cannot be
obtained from guess work
The monthly reports which were de
vised and intended to furnish the road
supervisor with reliable cost data, al.
though possessing some merit, were
not utilized to any extent in the previ-
Gus administration of the road super
visor's office. There reports were pre-
pared by the men on the job, Who
although probobly competent meChan-
les. failed to understand the import
ance of the information required, with
the result that the data was not
promptly submitted to the main Office
and was also incorrect Prior to 1909
no detailed costs of any road work
were kept. Correct costs would re
icve the city engineer and road super
visor of much detail work. A costing
scheme has been gone over with the
present road supervisor by the writer
and the following reports will here
after be used
Daily roller report, giving labor
charges; consumption of coal oil and
feed water; packing, waste, etc. used;
and number and cost Of square feet
of rolling, by stations.
Daily quarry report, giving labor
/ charges; holes drilled; barring and
sledging; wheeling; loading cars; re-
pairs of tools, and number and cost of
cubic yards of sledged rock sent to-
/ the crusher;
| Daily powder report, showing guam
/ titv and cost of powder used; caps
/ and fuse; and number and cost of
cubic yards quarr,ed;
/ Daily rock crusher report, giving
number of cubic yards of rock crush |
ed; delivered to wagons, and in bunk |
/ ers; charges for labor, materials and
/ supplies; cost of repairs and cost per
cubic yard of rock crushed
Daily report of pipe house, showing
cost of labor and material used; num-
/ her. size and cost Of pipes made, de F.
yered and in stock;
/ Daily report Of animals in district
stables. with cost of feeding and shoe
ing; and work done by each animal;
Daily report Of carts and wagons,
dump carts, horse roller and team
plough in use;
Foreman's daily report Of sweeping,
Cleaning drains and cutters, trimming
slopes and patching.
With the above reports accurately
kept and the item posted to cost an
alysis sheets, the results Of our muni-
cipal operation in all classes of road
work can be compared directly with
/ the results of similar work undertaken
Iby contract. and the desirability OF
municipal work Judged directly. These
costs records will be found valuable
in duplicating road estimates.
4 comptometer is needed in the
road supervisors office.
Central Supply Bureau.
Efficiency and economy can be Sc
cured only where there are utilized
the best modern business practice and
safeguards in hauling material and
supplies, such as the careful deter
.mination of the best material for par
t.cular purposes, the study Of markets
and products, and stratc- ic buying 10y
a trained purchasing agent As the
bulk of material purchased from time
to time is for use in the city and
county engineers department, the pur-
chasing bureau should be placed und"
his immediate charge, and a standard
izat.on of all supplies should he made
to meet municipal requirements. BY
standardizing supplies it is meant
standardizing a. the form Of con
tract; (2) names; CD qualities Oh
goods; a. the method Of telling
whether or not goods are Of quality
e. or quantity ordered; and 90 price
, that should be paid. The gains from
. this up..o-date method Of PURCHASING
. viii be found cumulative.
o WI TING FANG TO
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