The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1919-11-13

pie and the best property in the dis
trict. Often times better road at a
smaller cost can be located thru a dis
trict than the one decided upon, but
that road will accommodate only a
certain few, while the road decided
upon will accommodate the most num-
Der Of people and the best property.
The engineer can not be biased IN
his opinion, he is Supposed to act ir-
respectively to any certain party or
parties, whether or not the property
his location touches or goes thru is
owned by parties wanting a good
road; that property may be sold or in
some way the ownership changed in
the future; therefore the engineer sees
only the property, its improvements
or probable chance for improvements,
and the number of people residing or
likely to reside in that locality.
The location does not mean merely
stalking out the road in the general
direction, but means the. center line
must be accurately staked out, the
straight lines must be accurately
StIAlEilf Lnt AuINGH tiaok nv AAeAtAN~
matically correct and so staked; all
bitches, streams, springs, wells,
houses, barns, fences, orchards, pas
lures, cultivated tracts, timber, in fact
every item Of any Importance either in
line or near the road must be noted
may be made showing them in their
exact places.
Not only must the center lines be
of the surface Of the earth for strip
sixty feet wide along this line and US
ing the line as center must be TAX
en- and noted. These elevations are
located and staked, but the elevations
taken of every bump and every de-
preston, Of every fiat surface and ev-
cry variation whatsoever within the
boundaries Of this sixty-foot strip.
This is done so that plats may be
made in sections showing the earth's
surface along this strip and from
which plats the quantities of earth
to be excavated in some places and
filled in other places, can be figured.
Every cubic yard of earth, rock or
other substance or part thereof to be
moved, or brought in must be figured
not only from where it is to be moved,
but to where it is to be moved.
The location and cross-section 1.-THE
taking of the elevations) is what is
known as the preliminary field work,
and is only the beginning. It takes
as long again to make the maps and to
figure all the quantities, not only of
the earth, rock, etc, to be moved, but
the bridges, culverts, and all struc-
lures necessary, as it does to do the |
field work. This is why |
that after the engineers finish the
ield work there seems to be such a |
ong period Of time that nothing more
s done. But all this time the engin-
sers are working their hardest, are
using their heads and putting into ex-
scution that knowledge gained after
years of hard study.
After the engineers have completed |
their maps and figures, all of which |
must be made of the exact size and In !
the exact manner as specified by the |
the maps and figures are |
submitted to the State Highway De-
partment and also to the Federal gov
eminent, where they are checked over
and if correct are approved.
1t takes some time for the govern
ments to check over the engineers
work, which also adds greatly to the
seeming delay and to the outsider
seems like a long wait. It's worse
than waiting for late train.
After the contract is let the actual
begins, which must be-
gin within a specified time, which is
just long enough to allow the con-
tractor to move his equipment and to
organize his forces.
The engineer must supervise the
and see that the road is
built in accordance with the specifica-
tons; a firm solid foundation, good,
well drained bitches, the surface of
the road made of good wearing mater
ials and properly laid. the culverts
and bridges properly constructed.
This takes experience and the more
experienced the engineer the less the
trouble and delay. 1t must be done
right because from time to time the
State. and then the Federal govern
ment engineers come around to check
the work.
The bridges, culverts, and all drain
age structures must be built accord
ing to the standard plans of the Gov
eminent or better plan which must
be approved by the Government before
constructed.
The Engineer must be on the job
all the time and must have competent
inspectors to see that the contractor
does his work properly. 1t is very
easy for a contractor to pull the wool
over the eyes of an inexperienced en-
gineer, which will cost the district