OFFICE OF PUBLIC ROADS AND RURAL ENGINEERING. 369 



tain the present local road oi-ganization, costs of operation, results 

 obtained, procedure in construction, types of roads, character of 

 materials used, systems and methods of maintenance, etc. The object 

 of the study is to detcMinino (he elements of weakness in the various 

 local systems of management and to form the basis for a series of 

 bulletins dealing with local road construction, maintenance, and 

 administration. One of these bulletins, dealing with cost keeping, 

 is ready for publication. 



UTILIZATION OF CONVICT LABOR IN ROAD BUILDING. 



A bulletin Avas published during the year giving the results of a 

 study conducted by the office dealing with the management, opera- 

 tion, discipline, sA^stems of record and cost keeping, and the results 

 obtained in convict road camps under cooperative arrangements with 

 State highway departments. State prison commissions, and local 

 road authorities. 



OBSERVATION OF EXPERIMENTAL CONVICT CAMP. 



A study was made of an experimental convict-labor road camp 

 constructed and maintained by the County Commissioners of Fulton 

 County, Ga., in cooperation with this office, the Public Health 

 Service of the War Department, the Office of Home Economics of 

 the States Relations Service of this department, and the State Prison 

 Commission of Georgia. 



The object of this study was to ascertain the efficiency, economy, 

 and practicability of applying modern methods of penology, sani- 

 tation, health, dietetics, and management to convict labor camps. 

 The results of this study have been compiled and are now in course 

 of publication. 



ECONOMIC STUDIES OF SELECTED POST ROADS. 



In conformity with the provisions of the Post Office Department 

 appropriation act of August 24, 1912, economic studies of the 17 

 post roads in various parts of the United States were continued dur- 

 ing the year. The final report to Congress, w^hich will be made in 

 conjunction with a similar report by the Post Office Department, is 

 now in course of preparation. 



TRAFFIC STUDIES. 



Traffic studies were continued on experimental roads in the neigh- 

 borhood of Washington. The office is gradually accumulating a 

 mass of traffic data which eventualh^ will be of valuable assistance 

 in solving construction and maintenance problems. 



ADDRESSES, LECTURES, AND PAPERS. 



The office has continued to render expert advice on legislation, 

 organization, management, construction, and maintenance and to 

 disseminate information through conferences, lectures, and the 

 preparation of papers. In this work the office has cooperated closely 

 with State authorities. An effort has been made during the year to 



33382°— AGK 1917 24 



