Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1915-02-10

W G0VstG nVoo0 SUoWB w tNt0 An
nual Report How the Government 10
Cooperating With the States In
Building and Maintenance.
A project that should result In a con
tinuous series OF model roads from
Washington. d. c.. to Atlanta. Ga. has
been undertaken during the past year.
according to the recently issued annual
report OF the director OF the office of
public roads. The plan as finally adopt.
ed involves the payment OF sums for
the upkeep of these roads by the coun-
ties through which they pass on con-
1ition that the federal government will
provide engineers who shall supervise
the project SO that it may be an object
lesson in the maintenance of good
roads on sufficient scale to attract
general attention, So far the plan has
met with an unexpected degree OF sue
cess. Over half the counties covered
by the road system have already en-
gagged TO cooperate in keeping up this
model road and such wide interest has
been aroused that civic organizations
in Augusta. Savannah. Jacksonville
and elsewhere have requested that the
work be extended to their districts.
Many other object lesson roads are
being constructed for the purpose Of
giving instructions In proper methods
to local road officials. Assistance Is
granted upon application of the local
officials. All materials. labor and
teams are supplied locally. while the
federal government, through the of
fee of public roads, furnishes only the
services Of the engineer.
During the year thirty-two Of these
object lesson roads were completed, as
follows: One cement concrete, three
bituminous macadam, one bituminous
surface treatment. two plain macadam.
nine gravel eleven sand-clay, three
top soil and two earth. These roads
are located as follows: Arizona, 1:
Florida, 3; Massachusetts, /; Mississip-
pi 3; Missouri, /; North Carolina, 10.
South Carolina. I; Texas, .; Virginia.
3. One earth road was begun in Ten
nessee, but was not completed. and il
will be described In the annual report
for 1915.
The Office has also co-operated with
states and interested localities In the
Improvement OF post roads. Each
state or county provides double the
amount expended by the federal gov
Thn - A. -
-ject lesson and experimental roads
constructed during the year aggregated
691.535 square yards, nearly 40 per
cent more than the total for 1913.
The office Is concerned particularly
with bridge work and prepares typical
designs which are furnished to local.
ties where they might be suitable. Oc-
casionally designs prepared by bridge
companies have been checked and re-
viewed for the benefit OF local off,
cials. '
Systems of roads We're devised for a
number Of counties Engineers have
been assigned to make special inspec-
tons and advise with local officials In
twenty different states.
A new division In the Office has been
created during the past year, called
the division Of national park and
forest roads" which is to cooperate
with the department OF the interior In
improving the roads in some of the
national parks and with the forest
service In road aud trail construction
In national forest reserves, Congress
has provided that 10 per cent of the
receipts of the forest service shall be
expended in constructing roads and
trails within the national forests. -