The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-04-19
Cross Country Trip Being Made
BY The Experts.
BUILDING BETTER HIGHWAYS
Experts Employed BY Government: Blu.
reau OF Information Conducted
at Washington.
IsuMNER NJ. LADo.

Washington ID. G., April ia few
days ago good roads train started
out on the Frisco lines on cross
country trip. The undertaking is
the work of the office of public
roads, department of agriculture
The train is equipped not only with
road engineers, who will do the talk
ing at the various stops. but is sup
piled with miniature models illustra-
ting the different kinds of roads
as well as matchmaking machinery
In order 10 arouse interest along the
route and get the people out to
hear the good roads talks. "a we'll
known publicity man has been en-
ployed TO advertise the coming of
this train. You wouldn't think that
the arrival OF circus in a town and
the coming OF good roads train
would be hcralded in much tho same
fashion. Yet this is Just what is
being done. The advance men for
the good roads train was formerly
the publicity manager of we'll
known circus and the methods he is
tUlUlOAi lie 10 dIOilSt tihIuSibNul III
the good roads propaganda are not
unlike those seen in the flaming bill
posters.
Up on the third floor of the office
OF public roads building, presided
over by l.. w. Page. who has the
title of director, the government
road experts are turning out model
after model OF the kind exhibited on
the train. But they can't turn them
out fast enough. Since the good
roads movement reached high
water mark the director of the
bureau has been besieged with re.
quests for road models. Some OF
them have been on exhibition at
state fairs. some at technical schools
and universities. but the supply does
not equal the demand. These models
are exact reproductions of sections
Of good roads, showing the kind of
material used aud the manner of
construction. Model No | is a
sand clay road The material is
sand clay and the road looks real
Then there is the earth road model
and the gravel road Other models
are the brick road macadam, btu.
minous macadam. There are also
bridge models. u crusher plant In
miniature, split log drag, road homes,
ditch cleaner. road grader and ring
roller. as well as other roadmakias
machinery.
But the office of public roads does
more than manufacture road models
for demonstration work. Besides send.
ing out engineers who lecture on
road construction. it lends a helping
hand TO communities who wish TO
build an object lesson road. The
United States government does not
foot the bill. The community does
that. Uncle Sam will furnish the
road engineer who will see that a
first class job is done. but the com
munity interested in the project must
supply the money, men, material
and machinery For. the year end.
ing December 81. 1911. the office of
public roads superintendent the con-
struction of fifty-two object lesson
roads of twelve different types. The
majority of the work is in the south
ern states, where the road movement
is not well organized, although some
of these roads have been construc-
ted in the north. Goodhue county,
Minnesota. has an object lesson road
built under federal supervision not
great many years ago
The department of agriculture has
Just been calling attention to the
fact that 100000 miles of road must
be improved in this country before
the public road system can be con
sidered really efficient, There are
but 190,475 miles of improved roads
which constitutes but $50 per cent
of The total mileage of all public
roads. 1t is estimated that i'm this
country close to $2000.000.000 Will
have 20 be spent before a proper
road system Is developed Rhode
Island. the smallest of all the other
states takes first rank in its per
Rhode Island is first, with 1914 pei
cent OF improved roads. Massachu
settles Is a close second with ~ pei
cent. Indiana follows with 36.7 pei
cent. Alabama. Delaware. Florida
Georgia. Illinois. Minnesota. New
Hampshire and Oregon have between
5 and 10 per cent of their roads i'm
proved
According to a report recently is
sued by the office OF public roads
there were In Minnesota at the close
of 1909. 1895 miles OF public roads
OF which SAG were improved, 1873;
miles with stone. apps miles witt
gravel and 1,051.5 miles with sand
clay. The mileage of gravel road: