The Clay City times. [volume] (Clay City, Ky.) 1901-current, 1917-01-11

nave lHleu, tne people nave not lnOr-
oughly understood the proposition.
Several good roads laws passed by
the 1915 session OF the State Legisla.
ture have been printed in bulletin
form and have been distributed to the
various county officials, as well as
placed in number of libraries in the
state; copy of same may be had by
writing the state Office. Among the
bills passed is the Convict Labor bill,
which makes II possible to work con-
victs on public roads. Bell county was
the first to apply for convicts under
the provisions of this act, and on Au-
gust 9Th, seventy-five men we're sent
to Bell county. These men are located
at Pineville, in one of the county's
warehouses, which has recently been
remodeled for that purpose.
Due to the fact that Bell county was
wonderfully equipped with all kinds
OF modern road machinery. and also to
the fact that they had exhausted the
/ funds from the bond issue, 1t was
thought we'll to give this proposition
kOOu u g-Oul III Nnai COuhlgs ANNuiaeO
costs are being kept of the work in
order to compare same with the costs
of other work throughout the state
which is being done either by force
account or by contract. IL might be
said that the work is progressing rap
idly and the prisoners are well pleased
with the new outdoor work.
Prior to the year 1915 very little
concrete bridge or culvert work was
done in the State of Kentucky, except
in three or four counties, but, after the
passage OF the State Aid bill by the
1914 session OF the Legislature, all
bridge and culvert work which has
been done on inter-county-seat roads
in Kentucky has been designed by the
Department of Public Roads. All
structures are designed to carry with
safety a fifteen-ton traction engine,
and, 1t Is the opinion of the authorities
in charge, such loading is sunciently
severe to meet the needs of present
and future traffic on the country roads.
Owing to the limited head room, the
reinforced concrete box type of culvert
has been adopted as standard, and dur
,ng the year 1915 about four hundred
were built throughout the state. Dur
Ing the year 1916 more than twice that
number will be be built.
The slab type OF bridge Is usually
built for all spans up TO 20 feet, except
where the head walls will permit the
1T" beam type is used from sixteen to
twenty feet. From twenty to thirty
feet or more the "T' beam or through
girder type is built, and 1t is now the
practice to make all drainage struc.
lures permanent at least up to span
Of thirty feet.
County officials throughout the state
are well pleased with the concrete
drainage structures, as they realize it
represents permanent investment,
and 1t is a noticeable fact, where such
structures are introduced In a county,
no trouble is experienced in having con-
crete structures built. even though in
some cases the cost is considerably
higher than some other temporary
type.
Standards have now been prepared
for culvert up to 6x4; slab bridge up
to twenty-foot span and ct" beams and
through Orders up to thirty-foot span.
Contractors throughout the state are
becoming well accustomed to their
use.
Only recently the state office sent
letters to every county Judge, county
attorney and county road engineer in
the state. requesting that the counties |
Immediately apply for state aid and |
designate the roads to be built during |
1917 II is not necessary for county |
that has voted bonds TO again apply |
for state aid II they have at one time |
applied since the voting OF the bond I,
Issue, but statement should be sent |
to the Office showing the amount OF |
money which has been levied, etc, for |
road and bridge purposes during the |
year 1916. Such procedure is neces.
sary In order that the bond issue coun.
ties may be apportioned their 1917 al
lotment
Il II c-negtly hoped that tho .odn.
ties VIII realize the importance OF APP
plying for state aid Immediately and |
securing an engineer TO make the
necessary surveys. II IL the experience
OF the state ONCE that engineers who
are capable OF doing that class of work
are rather hard 10 find at the present