BUREAU OF PUBLIC ROADS. 419 



over by tbc Division of Rural Engineering in cooperation with the 

 States Relations Service. In furtherance of the conservation work 

 " thrasher schools " were held in various parts of the grain growing 

 sections of the country. Engineers of the division outlined the 

 courses for and attended these schools, giving talks and demonstra- 

 tions to farmers and thrasher men on thrasher operating. U'hough 

 the Avork was begun late in the spring the results were gratifying as 

 it was shown that more good can be accomplished by instruction 

 prior to the opening of the thrasher season than by an attempt at 

 supervision of operations during thrashing. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



In connection with replies to requests for assistance on rural 

 engineering problems there were prepared sketches, data, and short 

 articles on a variety of subjects. In the solution of specific ]:)roblems 

 there were j)repared sketch drawings of alterations and additions to 

 farmhouses, details of a concrete floor slab, sketch showing hoAv to 

 cut rafters, a four-horse evener, a concrete seed and potato ware- 

 house, farmhouse heating layouts, farmhouse lighting layouts, a 

 hydropneumatic system for hard and soft water, farmsteadiayouts. 



To the information series used in connection with the correspond- 

 ence there Avas added information relating to the following subjects: 

 Fireplace construction, farmstead planning, dairies, plaster and 

 plastering, building materials (manufacturers and dealers), 



Pro1)lems and correspondence relating to the following subjects 

 have been handled: 



Farm structui-es, Streiuii surveys and developments, 



Wall plasters and kalsomines, I'\u-m ice liouses, 



Ice house design and constructiou, P^'rmstead pianniug, 



Fanu water supply, Cbemical closets, 



Farm sewage disposal, Farm implements, 



Farm hydroelectric plants, Tractors and gas engines, ' 



Farm lighting systems, Protection against lightniiig. 



Painting, I'euciug. 



Stump pullers. Stone work. > 



Farm heating systems, Insulation, 



Windmill electric plants, Damp cellars. 



Grinding mills. Cement stucco, 



Thraslier holier inspection, Lumher, 



Concrete constructimi, IMotors, and 



Cooling systems. Disinfectants. 



Exhibits representing the work of the division w^ere prepared for 

 use on county fair circuits; one was also sent to France. Plans for 

 farm structures were sent to France with a view to their use in con- 

 nection Avith the reconstruction of the devastated sections of that 

 country and for the instruction of members of the American Ex- 

 peditionary Forces who are expecting to follow farming Avhen they 

 return to the United States. 



TRACTION TESTS. 



Calculation of results of traction tests made in the last feAv years 

 Avere discontinued in December oAving to the induction into military 

 service of the man handling that Avork. 



Under section 9 of " An act making apj^ropriation for the service 

 of the Post Office Department for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1020, 



