874 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



matters aud to determine the actual service of roads and the amount justified, 

 on a strict economic basis, for their future inii)rovoment and maintenance. 



Fauquieb County, Va. — At the request of Mr. J. Donald Kichards, of 

 the road board, a study of proposed road improvement in the vicinity of War- 

 renton was made during: October, IDll. Four roads were studietl — the Alexan- 

 dria Pike, 7 miles; the Spring Road, 8 miles; the Waterloo Road, 7 miles; and 

 the Bethel Road, 2i miles. The questions Involved concerning the improvement 

 of the main roads were investigated and recommendations were submitted. The 

 roads are subjected to considerable traffic, but it was recommended that a por- 

 tion of them be constructed of water-bound macadam, and that the Alexandria 

 Pike, which is likely to become the main artery from Virginia to Washington, 

 be built with bituminous construction. 



Prince William County, Va. — OainesvUle district. — During September, 1911, 

 an investigation of the road situation in the Gainesville district was made by 

 an engineer from this office. His report covers existing roads and materials 

 available for construction. Recommendations were submitted concerning the 

 details of width and depth of wearing surface for rebuilding various roads to 

 develop an improved system. An approximate estimate for the' cost of 23 miles 

 in 10 sections was made. The order of construction for this system of roads 

 was carefully indicated and a bond issue of $100,000 was recommended for 

 their construction. 



Wise County, Va. — During April, 1912, at the request of the authorities of 

 Wise County, an engineer from this office made a study of the development of 

 an improved road system which is in progress under an issue of bonds amount- 

 ing to $700,000. The topography of this county is extremely rough and irregu- 

 lar. The natural slopes, in some places for 2 and 3 consecutive miles, are as 

 steep as li to 1, and are held up by outcrops of ledge. 



The construction of improved roads here requires considerable new lo«ation 

 and expensive grading. Interesting engineering features have developed in the 

 selection of locations and they were studied for the information of this office. 

 A map was prepared showing the 11 sections of road under construction, aggre- 

 gating 125.3 miles. The entire mileage will not be macadamized, but some 50 

 miles of road have now been finished with macadam surfacing, aud the entire 

 system will be graded by the end of the present year. The report of the engi- 

 neer laid especial emphasis upon the need of proper maintenance and syste- 

 matic management of the new roads. 



Habeison County, W. Va.^ — During March, 1912, an inspection of the prin- 

 cipal roads of Harrison County and an examination of the available road 

 materials were made for the purpose of recommending a system of roads that 

 will serve the county best and will not cost more than $1,000,000. A bond issue 

 for this amount was proposed. A study of the finances and the present method 

 of road administration was made. As a result of this investigation a report 

 was made recommending that bonds to the amount of $1,000,000 be issued, one- 

 fortieth of which should be retired each year ; that about 55 miles of the main 

 roads of the county be paved with brick for a width of 14 feet ; that the present 

 system of road administration be changed so that the present funds may be 

 more economically and advantageously spent ; and that the present system of 

 deporting violators of the law be abolished and the jail convicts put to work 

 upon the roads. 



Marshall County, W. Va. — During September, 1911, an engineer from this 

 ofiice visited Washington and Union Townships to inspect the road conditions 

 and prepare recommendations for future use. A report was made dealing with 

 the road materials in the various districts, such as shale-clay, sandstone, and 

 limestone. The question of brick manufacture was considered with reference 

 to paving certain roads with brick. There were about 100 miles of trunk roads 

 to be constructed in this county, and it was recommended that a suitable engi- 

 neer be employed and that careful estimates be prepared for determining the 

 proper material in future work. It was recommended that particular atten- 

 tion be given to the relative cost of hauling road material and the cost of 

 locally manufactured brick. Attention was given to the plotting of the roads, 

 changes in grading and alignment, preparation of cross sections, and location of 

 drains, culverts, bridges, etc. No detailed specifications were prepared, but it 

 was urged that an engineer employed by the county should immediately take 

 up a systematic study of details. 



