The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1919-10-24

Sergeant S. E. Monahan, enginee-
in charge of highway building il
Latah county, has written an article
at the request of The Star-Mirror
giving much valuable information
about highway building and why the
highway district headquarters are
located here. His very interesting
letter follows:
"The object of the Engineering Of
flee formed at Moscow is to elimin-
ate series of smaller offices which
would be necessary if all the high
way districts were to maintain sur
vey crews.
A survey party is hard to organize
as experienced men are not always
available and results can not be OBJ
tanned with men that do not under
stand the business thoroughly. A
locating engineer must have at least
ten years experience and even then
is considered young in the engineer
ing game. An instrument man must
have from three to five years expert
ence. AS for filling the minor posi-
tions it is comparatively easy. al
though it requires from one month
to six weeks before green man can
give the proper results. Men that
have the necessary qualifications will
not take a position for short time
as would be the case if each district
maintained it's own crew.
This establishing one office has
eliminated the duplication of instru-
ments as the equipment is used in all
six districts with approximately one
half the cost. Other advantages are:
that there are always efficient crews
in the field, craftsmen, computors
and satisfactory instruments for all
parties. 1t has advanced the work in
these districts two years, has enabled
US to secure competent men and set
a record for highway engineering.
We have surveys to Bovill, through
Troy, Deary and Helmer on what is
called the Moscow-Bovill state high
way; also on the North and South
state highway through Viola, Pot
latch, Princeton, and Harvard. In
order to secure federal aid on these
roads project statements have been
sent in to the state officials. Sur
veys have been made on the Ameri-
can Ridge road in the Troy district,
the Pine Creek Road in the Deary dis
trict, and all proposed roads in the
Moscow highway district.
The roads that have been surveyed
this year will be under construction
by April and by the fall of 1922 will
see the completion of the program
now arranged.
There is under construction at the
present, five miles of road which will
be completed this fall, including the
surfacing.
Good road building has just COM
menced and it is surprising to see the
advancement our neighboring
states have made in the last five or
six years. By profiting from their
experience we intend to do in three
years what they have accomplished
in six.
There has been statement made
that the highway districts are ex-
pending entirely too much money on
the engineering. It must be under
stood that in order to secure the best !
possible grades it is necessary to |
make proper surveys. If it is the in
tentions to build good roads, why not I
spend enough time on the engineer
ing and get the best location possible
The government requires that 10 per
cent be set aside for the surveying,
while at the present time it has only
cost 1 per cent of the estimated cost
IF construction.
The object of this Office is to adhere
TO the following: A road should be
located in such a way that it will
furnish the maximum of benifits to
he greatest number of people.
Where the only desire is to go from
one place to another the selection
should be based on distance, grades,
,ost and permancy. Usually it is
essential that road going from one