The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1913-11-26
SHORT COURSE
ON ROAD MAKING
The Iowa State Highway Commission
Will Give instructions for TWO
Weeks at An1es.
OPPORTUNITY FOR ENGINEERS
Specialists in Every Branch of Con-
struction Will Gather; Comes
at Good Time of Year.

highway commission today announced
perhaps the most important and sig
nifcant plan it has conceived for the
furtherance of the cause OF better
roads in IOWa-a two weeks short
course at the engineering college at
Ames, from December goth to Janu-
airy 7th, for the benefit of every per-
son in the state who is interested in
finding out the best methods of the
best road engineers in the country.
1t will be the first OF annual good
roads" short courses to be conducted
at Ames by the commission. The pur-
pose of the course is to present IN al
condensed form, fundamentals I'M
highway engineering. All road build
ers, whether engaged as county en-
gineers or superintendent Of highway
construction, are urged by the COM
mission to arrange to attend it.
1t is not the intention to turn out
efficient highway engineers in eight
days, but to offer convenient oppor-
tunty at small expense for engineers
now engaged in highway work to get
O. better knowledge OIL road construc-
ton and administration methods, says
Guy DOdds, an assistant engineer oil
the commission.
The course comes at a time OF year,
when road work in the field is prac-
tically at a standstil; 1t comes when
when other duties are most easily laid
aside and trip to the state college,
can be conveniently made-When IT.
is possible to gather together many
experienced men in the various phases
of highway work to act as instructors
and when the college of engineering at
Ames is available as a large class
room and laboratory for the work, Mr..
Dodds points out.
Lecturers All Specialists.
The topics chosen for the lectures
and demonstrations are those in which
the engineer is greatly interested, and
are selected especially to afford coun-
ty and city engineers an opportunity
to receive additional training along
the latest highway building lines.
1t is believed that the short course
will go a long way toward bringing
the highway work OF the state into uni
formity and placing the work upon a.
firm professional basis
1t will include instruction in the|
fundamentals of highway engineering,
and, although a great deal is to bel
done in a short time, the instruction
program has been SO arranged and sol
organized as to permit OF presenta-
ton in considerable detail.
The instructors will, in addition to|
their regular lecture work, hold con-
ferences for engineers who desire tol
discuss specific problems.
The list of instructors will included
SPECIALISTS in every branch of highway
engineering. The lecturers will bel
state engineers from several states,
staff engineers of the Iowa highway
commisslolI professors OF the civil
engineering department at Ames. en-
gineers of the national office OF pub
lie roads at Washington and special
lists in highway economics, all OF them
engineers who not only understand
highway engineering in theory. but
who are thoroughly versed in the prac
teal problems encountered in the field
The Program.
Morning Sessions.
Dec 80: Surveys and preparation OIL
plans, and legal requirements.
Dec 81: Choice of type OF construc-
ton and principles of design.
Jan. 1: Tests of road building mate
rails; sampling, testing and repropor-
tioning gravel for concrete purposes.
Jan. 2: Estimates and relative|
costs of various types OF roads.
Jan. g.: Specifications and contracts.
Second week, Jan. 5: Cost keeping
and accounting.
jan 6: Organization Of maintenance
and construction forces.
Jan. 7: Modern road making ma
chinery and it's uses.
Afternoon Sessions.
Dec. 80: Surveys and preparation of
plans and legal requirements.
Dec. 81 Selection of type of bridges
Jan. I: Design of steel highway
bridges.
Jan. 2: Design of concrete highway
bridges.
Jan. 3: Estimate of cost of highway
bridges.
Second week, Jan. 5: Specifications
for highway bridges.
Jan. 6: Paints for steel and preser-
vations for floor lumber.
Jan. Z: Building culverts and bridg-
es by day labor.
Evening Lectures.
Tuesday: Organization and admins
tration of state highway department.
Wednesday,: A comparative study
of state road laws with special refer
ence to the basic principles of the
Iowa road law.
Thursday: The economics of high
way improvement.
Friday: The practical operation of
state aid.
Monday: Concrete roads. Qllustrat-
ed
Tuesday: Macadam and gravel
roads, UllustrateO