Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-03-30
IOWA ENGINEER
HEADS FEDERAL
AID ROAD WORK

WASHINGTON, March 2a.-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 con-
tinue to keep in close touch with the
federal aid road work of the depart
ment, as he has done during the past
two or three months.
Steps alreadyhav beentaken to
expedite the resumption and extension
of highway construction under the
terms of the federal law, as amended
by the postoffice appropriations act,
and nothing will be omitted to facili-
tate the vigorous prosecution of the
work. The regulations have been care
fully revised in the list of past expert
ense and of suggestions offered by the
state highway departments, the stan
dards for plane, specifications, and es-
Inmates have been modified to meet
special conditions existing in some of
the states, and other changes in prac-
tices and procedure have been made,
all with the definite object of speeding
up the work.
Mr.. Macdonald will Immediately SUI
pervise and direct all the activities of
the bureau of public roads under the
federal aid road act, including the ex-
penditure of the additional appropria
ton of $209, 900 provided by the
postofice appropriation act for the ex-
tension and development of highway
construction during the present and
the next two fiscal years. For the
time being, in the midst of the prus
sure incident to the resumption and
extension of road work, Mr.. MacDon-
aid will devote his energies to prob
lens arising under the federal aid
road act. 1t is planned that, in the
near future, he will formally assume
the position of director Of the bureau
of public roads, made vacant by the
death of Logan Waller Page
Mr. Macdonald was graduated from
the Iowa State College in the civil en-
gineering course and was employed
by the Chicago Great Western rail-
road for a time on track work. In
1904 he became assistant professor of
civil engineering at the Iowa State Col
lege 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 pres
ent state highway commission. He is
also supervisor of state roads, having
charge of all highways and streets adj
joining or upon state farm, state in
stitutions, and the state capitol at
Des Moines. He is a member of the
executive committee of the American
Association of State Highway Officials.
Mr.. MacDonalds broad knowledge of
and wide experience in highway con-
struction matters peculiarly qualify
him for the very important task of di
recting the activities of the federal
government under the road act, in CO.
operation with the state highway COM
missions of the various states, and of
supervising the expenditure of the
large sumes that are now available for
this purpose.