Evening journal., 1922-08-12
SATURDAY, AUGUST IL, 1922
MORE SCIENCE IN ROAD BUILDING

S Delawareans know highway engineering in the
IA past has not been exact science. Rule-of-
thumb methods in determining types thicknesses and
widths OF highways. location. construction and
maintenance only beginning to be superseded by
type OF highway administration which wishes to know
all there know about highway construction and its
relationship traffic and base the investment OF the
peoples money on these known facts.
Now the State OF Illinois is expending 100000 to
determine the essential facts which should govern the
investment of highway funds Never public money
spent better purpose. on the two miles OF expert
mental road the State constructed Springfield
and is methodcaly breaking to pieces under careful
scientific observation by gradually increased load incre
ments, the Division OF Highways OF the State under
Frank T. Sheets. Superintendent OF Highways. and
clifford older Chief Highway Engineer is bringing out
which Will ultimately the people Of the State
of Illinois millions OF dollars.
To group OF highway officials and engineers who re-
Gently the experimental road, at the invitation
Of the Detroit Club older explained that
10 scientifically design a road. knowledge was
necessary in regard three differing First
the know the OF the sub-soI upon
the road be designed is to be laid. He must
know the properties of his building materials-have
exact facts as TO the strains under which
they be expected TO hold up; how they affected
by moisture temperature. impact tension. abrasion
an forces and. third he know the nature
the loads his structure is expected carry; both
Given scientific knowledge in regard to each
factors It possible Mr. Older explained
for engineer economically design a road which,
with adequate and equally maintenance. may
expected resist the destructive effects of transpor
tation indefinitely.
The Illinois experiment IS providing scientific data in
regard the points mentioned and in doing this work
the State officials only serving supremely we'll
the interests Of people of illinois, but OF the Union
as whole for the information there secured is avail
able the highway departments OF the nation AL
ready the extremely interesting experimentation
ceedng at Springfield inspected by thousands
interested roadbuilders and engineers commission
officials from every section Of the Union 1t is
continuing to attract national attention When these
experiments concluded. the long controversy
what type road build for given weight and vol
ume traffic certain soils definitely con-
clusively settled. science OF modern road-bud-
ing will have been developed and the American public
may feel assured that with honest and scientific admin
stration their highway departments. they will be
securing lasting investment for the hundreds of mill
lions Of dollars which they Will spend "roadng'
America in the decades.
Chief Highway Engineer older Is a member Of the
Technical Committee OF the Lincoln Highway Associa-
tion which designed Ideal Section Of Lincoln High
way which is now being constructed in Northern In
diana His extensive experiments at Springfield have
served only to verify design features determined
upoz By the committee charge OF the Ideal Section