148 ANNUAL KKPOiri'^ OF DKl'AHTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



volves a thorou«j:h investigation of the entire road system of the 

 county with rcg:arcl to location, materials, systems of construction, 

 maintenance, and administration. In fact, every feature beanng 

 on the practical improvement and future maintenance of the roads 

 of the county is considered, and a practical working scheme for the 

 present as well as future betterment and maintenance is drawn up 

 and given to the proper authorities. 



LECTURES, ADDRESSES, AND PAPERS. 



Lectures, addresses, and papers form an important part of the 

 educational work of the OiScc of Public Roads, which has been 

 greatly increased during the year. These lectures are in almost all 

 cases given by the men who direct the investigative work and the 

 construction and maintenance of the object-lesson roads, and are 

 therefore of a practical and instructive character. During the year 

 723 lectures and addresses were given in 35 States, as compared with 

 523 for the previous year. These lectures had a total attendance of 

 over 200,000, a large majority of whom were farmers. 



INSTRUCTION IN HIGHWAY ENGINEERING. 



The project for the instruction of engineer students in practical 

 methods of road construction and maintenance has been enlarged and 

 improved during the year. The plan provides for the appointment 

 each year of graduate engineers to the position of civil-engineer 

 student. The course of instruction covers one year, during which 

 the student receives a most thorough training in all branches of the 

 work. The Office of Public Roads is in constant receipt of requests 

 from States, counties, and townships to recommend competent young 

 engineers to take charge of road improvement. During the year 12 

 engineers, constituting a very considerable percentage of the total 

 number, resigned to take up work in various parts of the country. 



While the work of the office is to a certain extent handicapped by 

 this constant drain, it is believed that the benefit derived by the 

 country in general through the distribution of properly trained 

 highway engineers in the various States and counties is so great as 

 to vindicate the wisdom of this project. While the object-lesson 

 work is an excellent example in any community, it lacks the living, 

 dynamic force which the capable, progressive engineer exerts con- 

 tinually from year to year on the movement for better roads in all 

 of its varied phases. 



HIGHWAY BRIDGES AND CUL\'ERTS. 



During the year a bridge section has been established in the Office 

 of Public Roads. The need for better culverts and bridges for our 

 public highways is becoming evident from the point of view both of 



