The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-12

Safe load for which 1t was de- signed.
 Safe load this year.
 Character of piers or abutments.
 Whether they are on rock founda- ton or not.
 Cost of any repairs.
 Date new floor was put on and cost of same.
 Date Of each painting.
 Date of last and each previous in spection to show it's condition and pr esent strength.
 The bridges on most railroads were placed under competent engi- neering design and supervision and were all planned to carry the same load, they have received constant care and complete maintenance Gre quently year after year by tho same man), yot it Is felt necessary for the safety of the travelling pubic and for the protection of the invest ment that these records and this watchful care be kept up. In what way do tho requirements for county bridges dlffer2
 Data Not Available The comparison is all against us Our county chief engineer (and SDGdk WlInOul SPOtNSh 'f implied of the present incumbent or his predecessors) has no such data available and has neither the ap- propriation nor the organization by which it could be secured.
 He has charge of the construction of new roads and advises when re- quested as to old ones He is plan ming to reconstruct the bridge on the Montgomery road, but it IS not ms fault that it fell down, yet under the proper system he would have been completely at fault if 1t fell. How ever, it would not have fallen; and there Is the big difference. We don't want to find fault; we want to be able to praise intelligent. well di- rected effort.
 The chiet engineer of a railroad also keeps a record of the way cer- tain qualities of ties last in certain climates and how long rails of cer- tain weight last under certain in- tensity of traffic He is learning all the time and the results of his ex- perience are secured to his employ CTS not oniy during his life in or flee but through his successors. for ever I need not draw the parallel to a similar very desirable condition of affairs, which we must have in our county management.
 Every bridge should be imme- diately inspected and those requiring it repaired. A sign board should be placed on the end of each bridge stating the safe carrying capacity or the bridge in tons so that drivers or unsafe loads would be forewarned. There are steel bridges in this county originally designed for five | safe for two tons; but how is the layman to know this? The county highway engineer has not even record of all existing bridges in his office, much less their condition. Some of our older steel bridges have not been painted for years and arc nearly rusted away.
 Lack of space prevents my going into detail as to revision of the roau 1 construction department of the county. This department is the most efficient part of the county's worx at present, but would be much im- proved by collaboration In the. rs- search work of the maintenance de- partment.
 To sum up the above rather ram bling discussion of the subject, the beard of revenue should immediately iTGGTganlEe flne county GH6iDCCi S ot flee, provide him with funds and the organization necessary to compile the required data.
 Must Make Surveys To do this 1t will be necessary to make surveys of all roads and struc- lures not now in hand, comprising at least 75 per cent of the entire sys- tenn. The organization should be -ka No panying chart, with the county road superintendent reporting to the chief county engineer, who would, subject to the approval of the board, see that expenditures were made in a technically economic manner
 do not intend to convey the idea that the entire system l have sug- rested will be found to be the best enc to adopt; in fact, I have only gone into so much detail in order that the possibilities can be appre- ciated by your readers. l do, how ever, believe that the basic prln- ciples are correct and that com plete system based on that suggested can be devised that will revolution ize the character of the results ob- tained by the citizens.
 Let me make a plea that the office or the cDtti COuhts Ci6 iHCSf pc eN',Nfs out of politics and kept out. Con tinuity in office is as much to be de- sired as in our very capably admin istered health department. There is no reason why our county should not derive as great and fine results from the continued service of an able en- gineer as the city has derived from it's present city engineers long com nection with its affairs.
 In conclusion, l wish to offer 10 the citizens of Jefferson county the free disinterested and unprejudiced assistance of committee of the leading engineers of the district (which, if desired. will, I feel sure. be appointed by the board of direc- tors of the Alabama Technical as- sociation) in the perfecting of an or ganization and system of records to meet the county's at present unrec- oenixed needs Yours very truly.
 ROBT. L. TOTTEN,
 Consulting Engineer.
 Rirminghan, June 1, 1921.