The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-11
CLARK POINTS OUT PROBLEM INVOLVED . IN BUILDING ROAD ID WARRIOR RIVER Current Funds Are Not Sufficient and Either Bonds or County War rants Are Necessary ELABORATE REPORT
 MADE BY ENGINEER Finds It Advisable and Eco nOmical to Work COnvicts on ROads-Full Report Is Given Out
ELABORATE REPORT
 MADE BY ENGINEER

reasonable bond issue to meet the needs for the construction of the War rior river highway and for other road construction which is desirable at this time in excess of the money which the board of revenue will have available for road work is recommended by County Engineer George H. Clark in his annual report.
 Engineer Clark points out that the board of revenue has already started work and authorized expenditures for the present year which will consume $125,00o of the available road funds.
 The money available last year for the purpose of constructing new roads, for repairs and for bridges and cul- verts was approximately $250,00O Due to legislative enactments which are pointed out by MT. Clark, this sum will be reduced this year.
 In view of this reduction, and the fact that $125,OO0 of the funds has already been spent or authorized for expenditure on other work, the imme- diate construction of the Warrior river highway and other needed highways not yet authorized will be possible only by bond issue or county war rants.
 EASILY REFUNDED
 MT. Clark points out that with the increases in property valuations which will follow the construction of these permanent highways and the natural increases which will logically follow from time to time, bond issue could and would be easily refunded in a c lOpf ie -&r +NI bonds could be disposed of to bear an interest rate of Az per cent. and since the county warrants would bear in terest at the rate of per cent the bond issue appears the better proposi- tion.
 Mir. Clark gives accurate and spe- cific figures concerning the working Of convicts on the roads and upon these figures bases his statement that it is advisable and economical to work the convicts on the roads and upon these figures bases his statement that it is advisable and eonomcal to work the convicts on the highways. He shows that the results obtained during the past year have been in every way sat isfactory.
 He points out the fact that the coun- ty board of revenue has abandoned the old and expensive policy of building roads piecemeal and that practically all the construction work now authorized calls for the building of the highways to the county lines. A large number of concrete bridges and culverts were constructed last year and many of the old steel bridges will soon have to be replaced with concrete structures, due to their deterioration and the constant increase in the tonnage passing over the roads.
 The report points out the great tn-
 
 cause of the use of numerous heavy automobile trucks and cites figures showing that adequate steps must be taken to prepare for a much greater deterioration in the future.
 COST SYSTEM
 MT Clark calls attention to the fact that an accurate system of cost ac- counting has been inaugurated in the road work of the county for the first time in its history. Every camp and every department of the work is kept separately and in detail so that the members of the board of revenue can see in case there should be any lack of efficiency.
 He calls attention to the improve ments which have been made at the convict camp at Ketona and mentions especially the new steam laundry which was only recently installed. Great economies have been effected through the use of this laundry and every de- partment of work connected with the Ketona farm is in satisfactory condi- tion
 The health of the convicts is reported as being exceptionally good and the treatment given the men very hu- mane. The food is shown to be of the most substantial and desirable kind. Only few of the convicts are worked iv, bo1 hair nil men of known desperate character.
 REPORT IN FULL
 The report of Engineer Clark, which was presented to the board of revenue yesterday afternoon, follows: The Honorable Board of Revenue Jeffer-
 son County. Alabama:
 Gentlemen-The work of the county in respect to highway construction and main- tenance and various other matters which are under the immediate supervision of the engineering department having recent ly increa sed very heavily, and it being apparent that there will be proportional annual increase to be anticipated here after in the amount and more varied character of this work due to the grow ing needs of the industrial district etc. for which adequate provision must be made, it is advisable that an annual re- port be made, setting forth results ac- complished during the year 1915 together with the cost and character of the same. and a statement prepared of the work thus far authorized for the year 1916, to- gether with it's approximate cost, in order that as soon as the amount of funds available for road and bridge work for the current year is known, budget may be prepared and the work more definitely outlined.
 In accordance with these facts and re- quirements beg to submit herewith for your consideration the following report and recommendations:
 ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
 The work of the department consists of the following general items:
 Field work.
 Graduation-Preliminar surveys and re- ports. Location of new roads and cross sectioning same. Estimates and super vision of all work Grades for macadam- izng, land surveys, etc.
 characterization and laying out of structures and waterways. Supervision of and estimates on the same.
 Office Work-Maps, profiles and struc- tural plans. Estimates and miscellaneous.
 FORCE EMPLOYED
 Exclusive of the Warrior river surveys for which extra men were necessarily em- ployed, the average working force has consisted of 10 men, four instrument men and six rod and stakemen. The work done during the year 1915 has
 (Continued on Page Nine)