The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-05-14
C0MINCT0kA NSAS
government Experts to Exam
Inc Roads Of SunfOwer State.
Shawnee Is One Of the Counties
Designated for View.

Washington, May 14.-Detailed
studies of local road building systems
in one hundred counties are now being
carried on by the department of agri-
culture in cooperation with state
highway departments and local au-
thorities. The following counties in
the state OF Kansas have been desig-
mated by the state highway officials as
those in which the investigation
should be made: Bourbon. Cowley,
Elk, Finney, Clark, johnson, Mont
gomery, Nemaha, Ottawa, Reno.
Shawnee, Wallace and Wabaunsee.
The purpose of this study is to dis
cover the points Of excellence and de-
fects in existing local methods of
building and maintaining roads which
aid the state authorities to put local
road management on q systematized
basis. The cooperating state author
tiles have been asked to designate
counties that present typical and ex-
ceptional features as to topography,
character Of road materials. methods
Of construction and maintenance. ad-
ministrative organization, methods OF
From these lists 100 counties will be
selected, and these counties the divi-
sion Of road economics will make In
tensive studies.
This investigation IL prompted by
the fact that there is at present very
little knowledge as to the most effec-
tive and economical methods by which
4 county can develop its roads. At
present the methods Of financing local
road improvements vary from calling
on farmers for q number OF days Ia
Dor, in lieu OF q road tax, or the use
of county prisoners in road construc-
ton, to bond issues or maintenance OF
roads from dramshop license funds
The department will study all OF
these systems with the view to deter
mining what system or combination OF
systems works best in actual practice.
There is. moreover, at present no
standard system OF keeping accounts
for road building and maintenance.
know to a penny the purpose for
which money was spent, others have
no definite check or reporting system.
Among various counties with the same
er labor il anything but uniform. and
many counties, because of the alb
sence Of definite knowledge. fail to
use local and cheap materials and
lily expensive for their purpose, or
which will wear out before the bond
issues are redeemed. The investiga-
ton will include q careful study of the
use Of convict labor in road construc-
ton.
In connection with the scientific
study, the departments highway en-
0ineers will advise freely with local
officials as to Improvements, and thus
give each county visited the advantage
Of direct cooperation, engineering
supervision and assistance.
These Investigations, 1t is believed,
will yield important economic data.
bearing especially on the benefits and
burdens OF road improvement and
showing the extent to which financial
outlay under given typical conditions is
tustif1able.
Miss Illena M. Bailey, expert in
farm management, department Of agri-
culture, has gone for a two months
tour Of Kansas and Nebraska to study
farm home accounting, and to deliver
q series Of lectures on that subject
Herbert H. Thompson, a citizen of
the state OF Kansas. who has been en-
ployed in the patent Office as a special
examiner for many years past. has re-
signed his position. His salary was ST.
500 per annum.
Mr.. and Mrs. r. H. Litt1eford of this
city announce the engagement Of their
daughter, Annie Elizabeth, and Victor
z. Peterson Of Enterprise, Kan. No
date has as yet been set for the we'd
ding.
Examination will be held in Coffey-
Vile, Kan, on May %, to fill vacancies
in the position of rural letter carriers
Kansas postmasters appointed
Ransom N. Norton, Haggard; Ray B.
Phelps. Jerome.
A6l16h IL 0A11c0