The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1917-01-12
Employment and Duties OF
Highway Engineers.

by J. H. Dorroh. Dean OF School OF Engineering
The millions of dollars being spent
each year for road and bridge con.
struction have attracted hundreds OF
engineers and self styled engineers
of every degree of competence. The
need for skilled men in this work
enormously exceeds the supply and
yet it is never hard to find man
who will concede his own ability.
Road commissioners and supervisors
find it hard to distinguish the real
from the imitation and select the
right man. and do not know what
to require after the selection has
been made. Advertisement for bids
for engineering, without stipulation
as to qualifications of bidders and
service to be rendered often brings
disaster. Saddest of all the disaster
is not always recognized as such, for
money, even unwisely spent, does
much good and the public never re-
allies what has been lost through
inefficiency and the so-called engi
neer goes away with recOmmenda-
ton to prey on others. The follow
ing procedure is recommended to
supervisors and road commissioners:
Secure the names of several of
those who stand highest in the pro-
fession and who are engaged in the
practice of highway engineering; in
vite them to submit propositions on
a percentage basis for making sur
veys, plans, specifications and SUI
pervision of construction. State in
the invitation that the service rem
dered will be in the order given
Make investigation to determine the
best location of roads: make detail
ed survey of the proposed route.
taking cross section, profile and al
ignment notes, locating waterways
and computing size of same; prepare
plan showing old and new locations;
report accurate estimate of cost of
road on new locations and approx
mate estimate for old, with full rea-
sons for all changes; prepare detail
ed plans and general and detailed
specifications for roads and struc-
lures; assist in securing right-of-way.
This work should be complete and
report on file before any bids for
are asked, The engi-
neer will assist in the award of con-
tracts and during construction, will
stake out all roads and bridges, in
spect materials. supervise construc-
tions, prepare monthly estimates for
to contractors and in every
way serve as the representative of
the people in seeing that full value
is received for every dollar spent.
After the receipt of engineering
service, az outlined above, the best
bid should be accepted. considera-
ton being given to the amount of
successful experience of applicant, in
the line of work for which he applies,
reputation of applicant, and price
bid.
1t is suggested that employers of
engineers consider the following
facts: Employ competent man at a
fair price; avoid propositions to work
for less than the service is worth.
Engineers have been known to make
private arrangement to the deteri-
ment of employer and his own
profit. The most reliable informa-
ton about an engineer may be OBJ
.ained from another of the same pro-
ession. but not a competitor.
Experience in one line of engin-
sering does not nessarily fit one for
practice in another. There are spec
alists in each line and there are sey-
sral lines in highway engineering.
The only bond that should be re-
luired OF professional man is es-
.ablished professional integrity. If
,ther bond is necessary, to secure
in any physician; attor-
hey, or engineer, that one is to be
summed.