136 abstracts: engineering 



antefilosa, alcima; Cerithiopsis (subgenus?) curtata,fossilis,gloriosa, para- 

 mcea, bicolor, arnoldi, magellanica, antemuda, diomedem and monte- 

 reyensis. P. B. 



ENGINEERING. — Progress and present status of the good roads move- 

 ment in the United States. Logan Waller Page, Director, 

 Office of Public Roads. Yearbook of the Department of Agricul- 

 ture, 1910. 1911. 



The subject is discussed under the following titles: "Period of Colo- 

 nial Existence," "Early National Existence," "From 1860 to 1890," 

 "State Aid," "Present Trend." The author tells of the early need for 

 roads as a means of communication between the various colonial settle- 

 ments and for the transportation of troops, arms and ammunition in the 

 numerous colonial conflicts. The work was largely accomplished by 

 levying labor taxes, and for two centuries nothing more was attempted 

 than to meet the most pressing exigencies. With the American Rev- 

 olution, and the following increase and spread of population and devel- 

 opment of commerce, road building became of paramount importance. 

 A decided movement for better roads was begun, which was manifested 

 by the construction of toll roads by private capital. Strong sentiment 

 for national roads also grew up, and numerous appropriations from the 

 national treasury were made for the purpose, but national participation 

 ended with the Civil War and the consequent heavy national debt. 

 From this time on little attention was given to road improvement until 

 the closing years of the last century. 



The author then discusses the development of State aid sentiment 

 in recent years, and the present trend toward more effective highway 

 legislation and skilled supervision, as well as reforms in methods of 

 construction and maintenance. C. S. Reeve. 



ENGINEERING. — Bitumens and their essential constituents for road 

 construction and maintenance. Prevost Hubbard, Circular 

 93 of the Office of Public Roads, U. S. Department of Agriculture. 

 1911. 



This publication presents in condensed form a description and dis- 

 cussion of various bituminous road materials, in an attempt to dispel 

 the existing confusion concerning the meaning of certain terms applied 

 to these materials. The definitions are still more or less arbitrary and 

 the circular will therefore be revised from time to time in order to keep 

 it abreast with the latest information obtainable. 



