758 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



OUTLINE OF PLANS FOR THE CURRENT YEAR. 



The work of the current fiscal year will not differ materially from 

 the work of the last fiscal year. The appropriation for the current 

 fiscal year exceeds that of the fiscal year 1911 by $46,480, and it is 

 therefore planned to increase the scope of the work in all its branches. 

 In the appropriation bill for the current year $10,000 was provided 

 for experiments in road construction and maintenance. The work 

 under this project has already started. Experiments are being con- 

 ducted at Chevy Chase, Md., to determine by service tests the relative 

 value of various bituminous materials applied by different methods, 

 both in the construction and in the surface treatment of macadam 

 roads. It is planned, if this appropriation is continued, to maintain 

 these experimental sections oi road for a term of years, keeping 

 accurate cost data in order to determine the relative economy of the 

 various types and methods of construction, taking into consideration 

 the first cost as well as the maintenance charges. 



Arrangements are being perfected to conduct experiments in Alex- 

 andria County, Va., in the maintenance of earth and gravel road by 

 the patrol or daily maintenance method. 



PLANS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 1913. 



The estimates for the fiscal year 1913 provide for an increase of 

 $70,176. In the event that the increase is granted, it is expected to 

 broaden the scope of the advisory, lecture, object-lesson, and experi- 

 mental work. 



At the present time, the office can meet only a portion of the re- 

 quests that are made for lectures and engineers. 



It is recommended that the name of the office be changed from 

 Office of Public Roads to Bureau of Public Roads. 



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