The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1922-11-28

the needs of any road construction
project that comes up. But the
possibility of securing local
ledge, field stone, gravel or sand
within easy hauling distance of
project is a matter requiring
knowledge of the geological re-
sources Of the country itself.
Local road agents and select
men, may and do furnish much
useful information based on long
acquaintance with their own dis
tricts, but this information is at
best but an imperfect guide 10 the
whole truth regarding both the oc-
culrence and the quality of rock
or gravel formations. A geologist,
by training, is more qualified to
follow the different strata of rock
across country correlating the in
formation pertaining to scattered
out crops. He knows the meaning
and significance of the scratches
no rocks due to the movement of
the Great Ice Sheet. He under
stands the fundamentals of gravel
and sand formation. A knowledge
of all these facts is necessary to
pass a scientific opinion on the
occurrence quality and quantity of
any given rock or rock material.
SO for the adequate develop
ment of native supplies geologist
is essential to search out sources
of supply and collect samples.
Then, the laboratory makes the
necessary tests on these samples
and thus affords positive know
ledge of the fitness or unfitness of
each sample brought in and on
the basis Of their combined study
in the field and laboratory, the en-
gineer is able to decide whether or
not the use of native materials
will be most economical in the
long run.
Paul d, Sargent, chief engineer
Of the Maine State highway com
mission, said in part:
"The State aid system consists
of between 5000 and 5000 miles of
road We have been working on
about 5000 miles, the policy of the
commission being to complete one
road in a town before another is
undertaken, and the average State
aid road is six miles long and there
are little over five hundred
towns which have designated
State aid roads.
Figures recently compiled
show that we have completed $50
miles of our State highway system
so that that work is about two
thirds done. We have completed
substantially 2000 miles OF the
5000 miles of State aid road, so
that that system is about two
thirds done.
"The original provision for
maintenance was tnat the High
way Commission should maintain
the improved portions of the State
and State aid systems and the
further direction was given that
the maintenance should be done
by patrol as far as possible In the
earlier years State aid work was
done in disconnected patches. The
policy had generally prevailed of
rebuilding the worst section of the
State aid road in each town each
year. This usually was some low
sWampy place. In consequence it
was difficult to establish a patrol
because the improved sections
were so disconnected In 1915 the
Legislature provided that towns
should cooperate with the High
way Commission in selecting a
mileage of unimproved road to be
added to the improved road, 50
that patrol maintenance could be
carried on on a continuous section
of highway. This has resulted in
patrol maintenance on substant-
tally the whole system of State
and State aid highways For the
last, years we have had from 1900 |
to 1900 miles of road under patrol
each year, employer about 800 !
patrolmen. The work has been car
ried on in about 1870 towns and the
few disconnected sections of i'm
proved State aid road which could !
not be patrolled have been cared |
for on a fifty-fiIty basis between |
the State and the town.
Estate highways are built at the
entire expense of the State but
towns may vote to put their State
aid money on the State highway |
system, if they so desire, and i
probably 300 miles of our State
system has been improv-
ed through the medium of State
aid. State funds for State highway