OFFICE OF PUBLIC ROADS. 749 



roads authorized under a $150,000 bond issue for the precinct. This 

 work involved recommendations to the county court for the employ- 

 ment of a general foreman, suitable engineer, and a patrol system of 

 maintenance. These recommendations were based upon a thorough 

 inspection of the precinct roads and an examination of the methods 

 used at Brownwood and Waxahachie, operating under similar bond 

 issues as that contemplated at Abilene. Proposals and specifications 

 for road machinery, plans for culverts and bridges, and a method of 

 bookkeeping were worked out and submitted. In addition an exami- 

 nation of available road stone and gravel was made and suitable tests 

 for this material were arranged. 



Bastrop County, Tex. — A general report to the commissioners' 

 court at Smithville, Bastrop County, was made by an engineer from 

 this office concerning information for handling a bond issue for 

 road improvement in the second precinct, together with the gen- 

 eral outline of roads to be improved and an estimate of the amount 

 of money necessary. The commissioners' court at this place required 

 merely general advice, and in view of the condition of the county it 

 was suggested that they refrain from adopting a scheme of general 

 improvement, devote the funds to bettering the bridges and culverts, 

 and thus make certain excessively bad roads passable. It was pro- 

 posed to form a road district in which the city of Smithville was the 

 largest town, and to issue bonds for a system of roads and bridges. 

 As a part of the report an estimate involving the sum of $100,000 for 

 the purpose of constructing 11 roads at some future time was sub- 

 mitted to the persons interested. General advice as to construction, 

 administration, and maintenance was furnished. 



A general report on the method of handling a bond issue for road 

 improvement in precinct No. 1, in Bastrop County, Tex., was made 

 by an engineer from this office to the commissioners' court. This 

 report was based on a careful study of the general condition of the 

 roads to be improved and the material at hand in the county, and 

 involved advice concerning road location and construction. The 

 question of administration was also studied and recommendations, 

 with a detailed plan of organization, were submitted. The question 

 of maintenance was discussed and recommendations were offered. 

 The roads on which improvement was contemplated lead into Bastrop 

 from all directions and are thoroughfares. Their improvement de- 

 mands the construction of simple, graded roads on the hard, stiff soil, 

 sand-clay construction on the sand and loam stretches, and gravel 

 where the traffic is heavy and the material available. Various quali- 

 ties of gravel and sand-clay were found. Separate estimates for the 

 cost of construction of 11 roads of sand-clay or gravel were supplied 

 with detailed plans and specifications and the necessary drawings. 



Bowie, Tex. — A report to the county authorities on the bond issue 

 for road improvement in precinct No. 2 of Montague County, Tex., 

 was rendered by engineers from this office. This is a contemplated 

 bond issue, and suggestions as to the successful planning of the issue 

 were made, together with details regarding the administration of it. 

 An examination of the road material present in the precinct disclosed 

 a good grade of clay and a surface formation of conglomerate suit- 

 able for bottom courses, some sand-clay hard-pan mixture, and a 

 good grade of tough limestone, besides several deposits of gravel. 



