Evening star., 1932-01-03
MANY FEATURES SCHEDULED
FOR APPROACHING ROAD SHOW
American Road Builders Association Will
Hold 29th Annual Convention in
Detroit January Ills

I bringing with him permanent stall men
and experienced floor managers who
have been with him for years and know
just what are their duties. Each man
goes about his special tasks and at the
round table dinner meeting each night
reports what has been done in propara-
ton or execution, tells his difficulties,
and arranges his next days work. The
director is in touch at all times with
every activity.
Tempo Increases.
AS the convention date approaches
the tempo increases until few days
before the event when both night and
day work begin. A regular order in
placing equipment Is followed, de-
pendent on arrival Intricate problems
of juggling must be solved to get man.
moth equipment in place without OBJ
structing the moving Of other equip
ment: some single pieces weigh $1,000
pounds and boomS are SO feet long
Exhibitors frequently lend a hand to
the moving contractors with cranes,
tractors and other power equipment A
spirit of rivalry and good fellowship is
found throughout among the exhibitors
and workmen. Often a contention for
right of way is followed by an exchange
CT "reminiscences of previous shows with
a hastily grabbed hot dog sandwich and
cup of Steaming java in hand. The
setting up moves with clOcklike regu-
larity under the direction of the asSocia-
ton floor managers and their assistants,
in cooperation with the exhibitors.
The several hundred men engaged in
setting up the show are through on
Saturday morning, Distributors day,
and the exposition is open to manu-
facturers and distributors of equipment
and materials only. New models are
examined by distributors and statesmen
who are called in by the various manu-
facturers with exhibits Meetings are
held, new connections made and the
road show is ready for the formal
opening on the following Monday.
During the five exhibit days other
organizations meet that are interested
in road building, delegations of State,
county and city officials, contractors
and foreign government representatives
are in attendance to inspect and COM
pare the exhibits At ST. Louis one
OF the most diversified and largest
equipment exhibits ever held was posi-
BILE because of tie combined interest Of
all who are associated in the highway
industry. In addition to the usual eX-
hibits Detroit will have an extraordi-
narily large motor freight exhibit.
elimination of Activities.
The annual convention is the cul-
mination of the activities of commit
tees and staff engineers of the asSo-
citation who are engaged in research
and inveStigative work throughout the
year. Subjects for research are care
fully selected and information IS as
Sembled for committees by staff en-
gineers of the association. The re-
search activities have come to be
recognized through the highway in
duStry among State, county and city
highway officials, contractors, manu-
facturers, distributors and motor freight
operators as of particular usefulness.
The aim of this work is to translate
into most usable form and populariZe
the facts discovered not only by the 4
American Road Builders Association,
but by all other highway research
agencies in this country and abroad
The proceedings of the association are
used as text books in a number of
technical schools.
The cosmopolitan group of $4,000
road builders that gather at the an
nual convention and road show learn
new methods in the many convention
seSsions-there were five meeting rooms
IN continuous use during the st. Louis
meeting last year. Roadbuilders in
spect and compare road and street
machinery, equipment and materials in
the road show The relation between
the two events Is most intimate