864 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



"Work has been done in ei.nlit counties — Cannon, Carter, Cumber- 

 land, Loudon, IJoane, Warren, Washinirton, and AVhite. AVhen com- 

 pleted the roati will provide a way across the Cumberland Plateau 

 at its most attractive part, having easy grades at all points and in 

 many places magnificent scenery. It will open up a section that is 

 sparsely settled, highly productive, and, until the opening of this 

 road, without any adequate transportation routes. In the other 

 counties the Memphis-to-Bristol highway follows generally the loca- 

 tions of existing roads. 



The successful administration of this project under an engineer 

 of this office, acting in a supervisory capacity for all the counties, is 

 an example of effective work that may, under suitable conditions, be 

 developed very largely where counties are unable to join in united 

 action on road matters. 



INSPECTION OF OBJECT-LESSON ROADS. 



During the year the increasing work of the office reached the point 

 where a more comprehensive system of inspection of field men and 

 methods had to be inaugurated. An engineer of the office was there- 

 fore detailed to act as chief inspector. His duties are to inspect and 

 report on the maintenance and present condition of the past work of 

 the office; to make preliminary inspection at places where object- 

 lesson roads are desired and to perfect arrangements regarding labor 

 and equipment, to avoid the loss of time when an engineer goes on the 

 ground to begin actual construction; to represent the chief engineer 

 in the field and to advise with the field men; and to cover miscel- 

 laneous advisory and consulting assignments. 



During the year interest has been aroused locally throughout west 

 central Kentucky in the reconstruction of the original Louisville and 

 Nashville Pikes, both the Upper and Lower Pikes. 



Long sections of both of these famous roads are in almost entire 

 disuse owing to the rough condition of the old telford base. The 

 grading and the base are still intact for miles and two serviceable 

 and substantial highways can be constructed at much less cost than 

 if no grading or foundation existed. The office has made an inspec- 

 tion of both roads with recommendations. The southern end of the 

 Lower Pike, called the Jackson-Davis Way, has been surveyed, and 

 on request of Simpson County a portion of the pike will be recon- 

 structed according to plans and specifications furnished by this office. 



Plans are in progress to secure united action among several other 

 counties to have sections of the pike reconstructed as object-lesson 

 roads. 



An examination has been made during the year of 24 object-lesson 

 roads for the purpose of determining their present condition, the 

 amount of maintenance received or required, the condition of the 

 culverts, present traffic conditions, the increase of traffic if any, the 

 adaptability of the road to the traffic conditions, and the effect upon 

 future road work. The roads examined are distributed as follows: 

 Two in California, 1 in Florida, 1 in Georgia, 1 in Iowa, 1 in Ken- 

 tucky, 1 in Michigan, 3 in Montana, 1 in North Carolina, 12 in South 

 Carolina, and 1 in Tennessee. A variety of conditions were found to 

 exist. Some of the roads were in good shape; others showed a decided 



