The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1919-04-04
ROADS OFFICIAL NAMED
THOMAS H. MACDONALD Is
APPOINTED ENGINEER
Iowa Man Will Be In Charge OF
Work Under Federal High
Way Act
Especial to Free >Press.1

Washington, ID. c., March 25.-
Thomas H. Macdonald, chief Engineer
of the Iowa state highway commission,
has been, appointed by the secretary OF
agriculture as engineer in immediate
charge of the work under the federal
aid road act, which provides for CO.
operation between the states and the
federal government in the construc-
ton and Improvement of roads. Mr.
Macdonald will assume his new duties
as soon as he can close up his work
in Iowa. In the meantime he will
continue to keep in close touch with
the federal aid road work of the de-
partment, as he has done during the
past two or three months. Steps al
ready have-been taken to expedite the
resumption and extension of highway
construction under the terms of the
federal law, as amended by the post
office appropriation act, and nothing
win be omitted to facilitate the
vigorous prosecution of the work. The
regulations have been carefully re-
vised in the light of past experience
and Of suggestions offered by the state
highway departments, the standards
for plans, specifications. and esti-
mates have been modified to meet
special condAions existing in some
of the states, and other changes in
practices and procedure have been
made, all with the definite object OF
speeding up the work.
Will Direct Activities.
Mr.. Macdonald will Immediately
supervise and direct all the activities
of the bureau of public roads under
the federal aid road act, including the
expenditure of the additional appro-
priation of s209,00O,000 provided by
the postoffice appropriation act for
the extension and development OF
highway construction during the pres
ent and the next two fiscal years.
For the time being, in the midst of
the pressure incident to the resump-
ton and extension of road work, Mr..
Macdonald will devote his energies
to problems arising under the federal
laid road act. 1t is planned that, in
the near future, he will formally as
sumo the position of director of the
bureau Of public roads, made vacant
by the death of Logan Waller Page.
Mr.. Macdonald was graduated from
lHc lOWd otdlc COllGSC III the civil
engineering course ard was employ
ed by the Chicago Great Western
railroad for time on track work. In
1904 he becmae assistant professor
of civil engineering at the Iowa State
college and was placed in charge of
road investigation work. In 1906 he
was appointed highway engineer with
the first highway commission in Iowa
and held this position until 1913,
when he was made chief engineer of
the present state highway cor1mis :
ion. He is also supervisor Of state
roads. having charge of all highways
and streets adjoining or upon state
farms. state institutions and the state
capitol at Des Moines. He is mem
Der of. the executive committee of the
American Association of State High
way Officials. Mr. MacDonald's
broad knowledge of and wide ex-
perience in highway construction
, matters peculiarly qualify him for
the very important task of directing
the activities of the federal govern
ment under the road act, in CO. OPP
Grafton with the state highway com :
missions of the various states, and of
supervising the expenditure of the
large sums that are now available for
this purpose