716 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



during (he fiscal year 1910, and gave such promise of practical value 

 that its properties were thoiiirht well worthy of investigation both 

 in the laboratory and in the tield. These investigations have dem- 

 onstrated the great possibilities of this material for use in construc- 

 tions requiring damp-proofing, such as basement floors and walls, 

 vaults, sewers, tanks, cisterns, septic tanks, silos, etc. Service tests 

 of roads built of oil-mixed concrete are likewise now in progress and 

 good results are reported at the present writing. 



The economic investigations started in 1910 to determine the effect 

 of good and bad roads upon the welfare of rural communities have 

 been continued. This work has been carried on in 11 counties in 

 different parts of the country, and it is proposed to continue it until 

 all of the main roads in those counties have been improved under 

 plans already provided for. 



Statistical investigations to determine the mileage of roads of 

 various classes and the cost of improving roads were completed and 

 the results will shortly be published in the form of a bulletin. 



Numerous lectures and addresses were delivered and many papers 

 were read before road conventions, farmers' organizations, and sci- 

 entific societies. The grow-th of this feature of the work is shown 

 by the fact that during the year 723 addresses were delivered by 

 22 representatives of the office, as compared with 523 in 1910 and 

 185 in 1909. 



A number of engineer students have been given both practical and 

 theoretical instruction in road building during the year. Seven 

 engineer students were appointed, while 12 highway engineers re- 

 signed to accept positions in different States. 



Road-improvement trains were operated over the Pennsylvania 

 and Southern Railways. These trains carried a lecture car and a car 

 for models illustrating the various types of road construction and 

 maintenance. Each of these trains was accompanied by repre- 

 sentatives of this office, who gave lectures and demonstrated the ex- 

 hibits. The success of this project is shown by the fact that in four 

 months' time 65,000 people heard the lectures and examined the 

 exhibits. 



The appropriation for the fiscal year 1911 was $114,240. a decrease 

 of $2,200 as compared with the appropriation for the fiscal year 1910. 

 This amount, however, was transferred to the contingent fund of the 

 department to pay certain expenses which, during the fiscal year 



1910, were paid by this oflice. There were on the rolls of the office 

 on June 30, 1910, 91 permanent employees. During the fiscal year 



1911, 68 new employees were appointed, and, since there was a loss 

 of 19 by transfer or resignation, the net increase for the fiscal year 

 1911 was 49. The total number of employees on the rolls on June 

 30, 1911, was 140. In addition to these, 13 temporary emploj'ees 

 were appointed during the fiscal year 1911. 



A detailed sunmiary of the work performed under each project 

 is given in this report as follows: 



OBJECT-LESSON AND EXPERIMENTAL ROADS. 



The object of the work under this project is to give practical in- 

 struction to local road builders in regard to standard methods of 

 construction, and to experiment with and demonstrate the use of new 



