394 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



a concrete bnlldiead for use in producing water-tio-lit compartments 

 in steel vessels. This specimen was 18 feet hijo-h and some G feet 

 wide. During the pouring measurements were taken of the pres- 

 sure exerted by the concrete against the forms, using the soil 

 pressure cells designed in this bureau, ' 



A series of tests was started in order to determine the pres- 

 sures exerted by concrete poured so as to fill the forms at different 

 rates. This information is useful in permitting of the economical 

 design of the wooden forms. 



There are many sections in reinforced concrete ships where the 

 concrete can not be poured continuously, ])ut where it is necessary 

 to join the old concrete to the newly poured concrete with as 

 strong a bond as possible. A number of diiferent methods for ob- 

 taining a strong bond were investigated. 



In connection with tests made at other laboratories for the 

 Shi])ping Board, it was necessary to have instnuncnts that AA^ould 

 register exceedingly minute changes in length. At tlie request of 

 the Shippmg Board this oflice made tliree such test instruments 

 after designs furnished by the Shii:)ping Board. The Invar steel 

 for the sides of these instruments was furnished by the Shipping 

 Board, as were also the Ames dials. These instruments are prov- 

 ing ver}' satisfactory. 



THE UNITED STATES HIGHWAYS COUNCIL. 



The first regular meetiug of the United States Highways Council 

 was held in the office of the Director of the Bureau of Public Roads 

 at 10 a. m. Saturday, June 8, 1918. 



Present : Mr. L. AV. Page, Office of Public Roads, designated by tlie Secretary of. 

 Agriculture; Lieut. Col. W. D. Ubler, War Department, designated by the Sec- 

 retary of War; Mr. G. W. Kirtley, IJailroad Administration, designated by the 

 Director General of llailroads ; Mr. Richard L. Humphrey, War Industries 

 Board, designated by chairman of AVar Industries Board; Mr. C. G. Sheffield, 

 Fuel Administration, designated by the Fuel Administrator; and Mr. S. L. 

 Selden, Capital Issues Committee, designated by the chairman of the Capital 

 Issues Committee. 



Permanent organization was effected by the selection of L. W. Page 

 as chairman and J. E. Pennybacker, of the Bureau of Public Roads, 

 as secretar3^ 



Between this date and November 11, 1918, 25 meetings of the council 

 for the transaction of business were held. On November 13, 1918, a 

 special meeting was held at which the council announced " that no 

 further applications need be made to it for highway projects; that 

 previous disapprovals are revoked and pending applications require 

 no further action. Procedure in securing materials for transporta- 

 tion should follow normal practices." 



SUMMARY OF APPLICATIONS. 



From the first meeting, June 8, to the last meeting, December 31, 

 1918, the full council held 27 meetings and the subcommittee 112 meet- 

 ings. These meetings were in addition to the excellent and continu- 

 ous service rendered by jNIr. Prcvost Htibbard and Mr. M. O. Eldridgo 

 as a special subcommittee. 



