748 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



addition, the commissioners were required to make a tax levy of a 

 mill or less, to be expended within the county on a thorouixhlare to 

 be designated by the Territorial ofTicialSj but this road had not, at 

 the time the office was called on for assistance, been so desijrnuted. 

 An estimate of the maximum sum available for road and bridge 

 purposes, based on the above conditions, was made and a system for 

 its administration outlined. Specific recommendations as to the 

 improvement of Fourth Street, between Albuquerque and Alameda, a 

 distance of 6 miles, and involving an expenditure of $1,500, were sub- 

 mitted. Estimated costs of permanent roads, for which present in- 

 dustrial conditions indicate a positive demand in the near future, 

 were also made, involving an expenditure of $100,000. This per- 

 manent construction will be demanded in the irrigated district for a 

 distance of 25 miles. Finally an emphatic recommendation for the 

 employment of an experienced highway engineer was presented. 



Hydro, Okla. — At the request of the authorities of Hydro Town- 

 ship, advice was furnished concerning the proposed construction of 

 10 miles of macadam road leading from the town in three directions. 

 A maximum issue of $30,000 in bonds was contemplated. A study 

 was made of the materials in the vicinity, together with the topo- 

 graphic conditions involved. Advice was furnished concerning a 

 reduction of grades, the treatments of sandy surfaces, the construc- 

 tion of culverts, and the requisite width of macadam surfacing. Es- 

 pecial attention was given to the development of a crushed-stone sup- 

 ply, which seemed to be in a fair way of solution at the departure of 

 the engineer. Further advice was given concerning the emplo3'^ment 

 of county prisoners, the management of grading, and the work of 

 culvert construction. Two miles of roads were surveyed and platted 

 for the assistance of the authorities. 



RonERTSON County, Tenn. — The purpose of this investigation was 

 a reconnoisance survey to determine the most important roads in the 

 county to be first developed, to estimate the detailed mileage cost 

 within an authorized bond issue of $150,000, and to indicate further 

 what roads should be constructed as additional funds became avail- 

 able. To determine the most important roads, a study of the distri- 

 bution of population was made, together with an investigation of the 

 traffic conditions, and a definite order of the construction of 10 roads 

 was recommended. The type of road determined upon for this county 

 was limestone, water-bound macadam, and an approximate estimate 

 of the cost of construction of the above-mentioned 10 roads was sup- 

 plied. A plan for future development, involving the improvement of 

 earth-feeder systems and their maintenance, was submitted. 



The area of this county is about 475 square miles. There are about 

 145 miles of main public roads, which can not be greatly reduced. 

 The total road mileage is probably not far from 500 miles and all the 

 roads are of earth. The soil is red or brown clay overlying limestone. 

 There are some deposits of bank gravel, with a low percentage of 

 stone, which would apparently prohibit the use of this material. 

 The principal crop is tobacco, a common load of which is two casks 

 weighing 1,800 pounds each, hauled with four mules. The county 

 has no bonded indebtedness. 



Abu.ene, Tex. — An engineer from this office was sent to Abilene, 

 Tex., in November, 1910, to outline the installation of a system of 



