Evening star., 1916-10-15

about their business and travelling the
other way. Grades are cut down. Such
work. once done, is, barring accidents,
done for all time.
"Culverts and bridges greatly in
crease the first cost Of road-building.
Road surfaces may last ten years.
Some last longer and some less. Here
again only broad statements can be
used as surfaces for roads Then the
surfaces vary as to thickness and
width A thick road Of good material
Is more durable. of course, than thin
outlive the first. if 1t is taken care of
while the other is neglected"
Who pays for the roads in Europe?"
Who pays for everything and all
pie. 1 am glad you spoke of Europe
There is a notion in this country that
Europe has had solid roads for CEN
turies. hundred years ago. however,
the roads there were not nearly SO
good as are American roads at present
Napoleon started the good roads
movement in France. Napoleon III con-
ttnued the policy. France now has the
best highways in the world Even so.
during the last ten years the United
States has built more miles of modern
roads than are included in the whole
national road system Of the French re-
public"
Stretches of the Appian way. out Of
u,
are still in good condition. What do
you know about that wonderful road"
X x
That any engineer could duplicate 1t
today If some one would supply the
money. The Romans possessed no art
that has been lost. They made the
Appfan way. which is hard and rough,
of
day would be s250.o00 mile, some en-
gineers say. The estimates of other
engineers run as high as 100000. Such
road ought to last. which is about
all that can be said of it."
What is to prevent political favorit-
ism and scandals in the awarding of
road contracts by the states during the
rich five-year money period created by
Congress-" Mr.. Page was asked
Checks" he replied. The Secretary
Of Agriculture and the highway COM
missions of the states will build the
roads. Now, when a road is to be
built. the state chooses the road-a
county doesn't choose 1T, a congress
sional district doesn't choose it. but the
state, as whole. and the state is the
highway commission or a highway
commissioner. But the choice must be
approved by the Secretary of Asricul-
ture in Washington.
The road to be built having been
aesisnated. the Secretary Of Agricul-
whether practicable and desirable
choice has been made. Once the choice
1s ratified In Washington, plans from
the state must follow. together with a
provement. The plans are studied by
engineers In my office. Every act of
the state SO far has been scrutinized.
Then follow the bids of contractors.
Secretary Of Agriculture. His en-
gineers. on examining them. know if
they are reasonable or If they are ex-
tortionate. Also they will discover If a
responsible and lower bidder has been
treated unfairly by the state authori-
ties.
Contracts cannot be made over the
veto or the Secretary of Agriculture.
so at last, let US say, the work Is un-
the national government is helping to
pay the cost. We take for granted.
OF course. that the state wants an
honest job. but something more, under
the law, is required.
the eye of Uncle Sam Is on the road.
Engineers in the field-oficers of the
natlonal government-are watching
the specifications. the materials and
about roads. If anything is wrong
they will report it Immediately to
Washington and the flow of money
from the national Treasury to the
state will stop at once Such are some
of the checks which. It seems to me,
will make Irregularities almost impos-
sible."
What states have the best roads?"
Among the leaders are California,
New York, Massachusetts,,
Connecticut. New Jersey and Ohio"
-.
Have you ever thought that pris-
oners in state penitentiaries might be
used In building roadsr
''oh. yes; have gone into that mat
ter at some length. Roads cannot be
built at the north in the winter. Nor
would 1t pay to keep costly machinery