Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-08-30
ROAD ENGINEERS SCARCE.
Growth of Automobile Transportation
Opens Big Field.

II all the graduates OF the civil en-
gineering schools of the country should
enter the field Of highway and highway
transport engineering, the need for
trained men would scarcely be met. |
Motor trucks hauled in 1919 a billion
tons of freight and the railroads hauled
two and half billion tons. The enor-
NOUS growth of motor transportation has
created problems beyond our scientific
knowledge and the universities must
assume the burden of research which the
new conditions demand.
These were among the views expressed
at the conference on highway and highway
TRANSPORTATION engineering held IN Wash
lngton recently, at the call of the United
States Commissioner of Education.
Seventy delegates were present, repre-
senting the automotive and tire industries,
transportation organizations the State
highway departments. the bureau Of
public roads. the War Department and
colleges of engineering The sentiment
of the conferences was expressed IN a
series of resolutions. which included:
Approximately $500, 900 is avail
able for highway construction, and an
annual supply of 900 college-trained
engineers is required. Probably not
more than LOO will graduate three
wears from now, and only about 300 of
| them NAV be expected to take up this
branch of the profession.
Colleges are urged to direct the atten-
| ton of students to the need of engineers
| in order to increase the supply
Federal and State commissions are
| advised to increase salaries In order TO
maintain their respective organizations
Cooperation between the colleges and
the highway organizations is recon-
| mended by which students may procure
work on the highways during their
vacations: better facilities may be pro-
vided in the colleges for further study
! of highway engineers, either IN residence
or by extension methods; a central body
| NAV be organized to inform the college
officers of openings in highway work foI
engineering graduates; and short courses
NAV be offered by the colleges for county
road officials.
| The course of obstruction for the high
way engineers should embrace English
economics, science and business relations
in addition to thorough and severe
training in the technique OF engineering
Full provision should be made in tbs
higher institutions for research.
Highway transportation requires every
year 1000 truck fleet managers, business
administrators, and transport engineers
900 automotive engineers; $50, 900 shoI
foremen, mechanics, inspectors, and trucl
operators
Universities and colleges generally
should offer courses in highway transport
and at least 10 universities should offe
short period advanced courses In highway
transport and four-year courses IN highwa,
transport engineering.
The principles of highways and high
way transport as we'll as the rules of tn,
road, should be taught in elementary ant
high schools.
Vocational guidance should be giveI
in all public schools and the attention
of capable pupils should be especially
directed to highway work.
The research work of colleges and uni
versities should be directed by a centra
authority with power to call upon othe
agencies and organizations tor assistance
The national government should appro
pirate funds for research IN highway
engineering and highway transportation
and each State should set aside Tor re
search a portion of the funds appropriat
ed for highways
A permanent committee should b.
appointed by the commissioner OF educa
tion to consider this problem. That com
mlttee should represent the bureau o
education, the bureau of public roads, th'
War Department, the State highwa,
departments, the automotIve industries
the tire and rubber industries and th'
higher educational institutions.