The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1915-07-29
Field Men and Roads.
A Contribution from the u. S. Office of
Public Roads and Rural Engineering.

Field representatives of the Depart
ment of Agriculture are asked occasion
ally: "What can you do to help US get
good road here? We need one, but do
not know how to get it," In other IN
stances the field agents of the depart
ment may have felt impelled to ask the
people in turn: "Why haven't you bet
ter road system?" In either event, it
would be decided impetus to the good
roads movement if the Department rep
resentatives knew enough about the &C.
Invites of the Road Office to be able to tell
the local inhabitants just how much help
they might expect in solving their road
problems.
In communities where it is quite evil
dent that the population is ignorant as to
the simplest benefits derived from good
roads, an educational campaign is needed
to arouse spirit of progress in the COM
munities. One of the most effective
methods for conducting this educational
work is by means of lectures. If any
community desiring roads lecturer can
assure the office that the lectures will be
attended by representative audiences
large enough to repay the office in prac-
teal results for its efforts and expense,
it has only to make request and the lee
turer is sent without expense to the COM
munity. Not oily are these lectures de-
signed to waken deep interest in road
betterment, but also to point out ways
and means for obtaining the needed i'm
provements. Consequently the lectures
are only given where such purpose can
be served When number of reighbor
ing communities can each make arrange
ments for a meeting, this is desirable,
inasmuch as it makes the trip more worth
while to both the public and the office by
increasing the number of lectures given
with very little increase in the travelling
expenses.
Wherever practicable, the lecturer car
ries with him 8 set of colored lantern
slides, suitable for illustrating the partic-
ular conditions and needs of the locality.
Needless to say the pictures have fire.
quently been of greater power, especial
ly in the very bad road sections, than any
number of wordy exhortations. When it
is not possible or necessary for the office
to send a lecturer, it loans set of suit
able lantern slides to some responsible
Of
expense save for express charges. The
office requires that the slides loaned be
made of active and practical use in the
community and that they be returned in
good condition within 80 days. 1t has also
furnished brief synopsis of lecture
which can be used to accompany the
showing of the slides, when the person
making the loan has requested such aid.
The publications of the office are sent
free upon request to all who send in their
address with the statement as to justwhat
phase of road work they wish to study.
The publications cover almost every
side of the question, and the larger part
of them have been written, not primarily
for the use of the engineer, but rather
for the instruction of the people untrain-
ed in engineering. Numbers of county
road officials have requested certain of
the publications sent to each of their
township or district road men who prob
ably have had no previous opportunity to
study the best road methods.
Perhaps the euucatlonal work done by
the office that is at once most instructive
and most enjoyed, is in connection with
its road models and enlarged photographs
which are sent to State fairs, exposi-
tons, conventions and association meet
ings throughout the country upon re-
quest of the proper officers who agree to
pay the shipping and installing costs.
Among the models are miniature roads,
bridges and culverts, each representing
the best method for constructing its par
ticular type. Anyone desiring to know
more about the models can do so by writ
ing for a copy of Department Bulletin
No 22O.
In the line of actual construction work,
she office may be called upon for assist
ance in several distinct forms, which it
has classified as: Object-lesson roads,
experimental road work, bridge work,
county model systems, special advice
and inspection superintendent of county
roads, road surveys, investigation of
road materials and road maintenance. 1t
may be that department field man can
diagnose the road trouble of a communi-
ty as needing one of the above mention
ed forms of assistance. To secure this
aid, it is necessary always for the proper
local road authorities to secure blank
form from the office of Public Roads
upon which to make request for such as
sistance. When the blank is returned,
properly signed, it is noted and handled
as soon as possible after receipt. Very
often, however, the number Of requests
are so many that they must take their
turn. 1t should be mentioned that the
office is not authorized to aid corporate
villages or cities.
The object-lesson roads are intended