OFFICE OF PUBLIC EOADS AND KUEAL ENGINEEEING. 321 



the close of the fiscal year traffic studies were in operation on the 

 following roads : The Chevy Chase experimental road and the Rock- 

 ville experimental road, both in Montgomery County, Md. ; the 

 Mount Vernon Avenue experimental road and the Russell experi- 

 mental road, both in Alexandria County, Va. 



These traffic studies are designed to indicate the relative traffic 

 importance of the roads improved and the cost per ton-mile of 

 traffic represented by the outlay for construction, maintenance, and 

 depreciation. The financial burden thus incurred is measured 

 against the saving per ton-mile by reason of increased loads, greater 

 hauling radius, and increase in the speed for hauling. The traffic 

 census also indicates the effect of the various kinds and volumes of 

 traffic upon the several types of construction represented in the post 

 and experimental roads. It is purposed to embody the data thus 

 obtained in a publication to be issued later on. 



STUDIES OF CONVICT LABOR IN ROAD CONSTRUCTION. 



During the past year an exhaustive study was made, in cooperation 

 with the United States Public Health Service, of convict road 

 camps and convict road work in every part of the United States. 

 These studies had been completed at the close of the fiscal year and 

 the preparation of a manuscript for a comprehensive bulletin on the 

 subject was under way. 



As a result of the studies it was considered highly desirable that 

 an experimental convict camp be established at some suitable point, 

 at which the conclusions reached in the nation-wide study could be 

 demonstrated practically. To this end the project was discussed 

 with various State and county officials. At the close of the year 

 it seems quite probable that Fulton County, Ga., would establish 

 such a camp and conduct it under the observation and in accordance 

 with suggestions of this office and the United States Public Health 

 Service. 



LECTURES, ADDRESSES, AND PAPERS. 



In its advisory work under this division the office cooperated with 

 the State highway department of Kentucky through the assignment 

 of an engineer to aid in the preliminary work of organization and 

 the installation of the necessary system of report and record incident 

 to the operation of the recent State-aid law. Advice by personal 

 conferences was given to committees of the North Carolina State 

 Legislature in connection with the recent passage of the bill estab- 

 lishing a State highway department, and advice was given in connec- 

 tion with similar legislation in Tennessee. Other advisory work in 

 connection with county organization and management was given 

 during the year. 



During the year 410 lectures and addresses were delivered in 38 

 of the States by 32 representatives of the various divisions of the 

 office, as compared with 331 lectures in 1914. The total attendance 

 was 58,352. These lectures were given mostly at farmers' meetings, 

 road conventions, and gatherings of civic and scientific organiza- 

 tions. A number of papers were read and lectures given in 10 States 

 at colleges and universities, and before road schools held at universi- 

 ties or colleges. These road schools were attended largely by local 



22814°— AGE 1915 21 



