Report of State Highway Engineer. 45 



are the first steps toward acquiring good roads, but there is some ex- 

 pense attached even to this. 



You will fill realize that my work is of such a nature that its 

 value cannot be estimated in dollars and cents. With a rating at the 

 usual fees charged for engineering consultation the amount will just 

 about balance the expenditures upon the office. This estimate does not 

 nor cannot take into account the loss which might have occurred through 

 faulty construction, since without such an official as State Engineer, 

 the local officials would never have sought advice upon the subject, nor 

 does it take into account the far reaching effect which the road meet- 

 ings, publications, and other similar works may have. 



For example, we have not only made the plans for concrete struc- 

 tures, but have in some instances gone to the county where no such work 

 had been done, and aided in preliminary construction. In four cases 

 we went before the county courts and argued for a beginning in con- 

 crete culvert work. These, among other counties, are now doing con- 

 crete work as fast as their means will justify. 



Six years ago Dallas county paid $4,450.00 for a 120-foot steel 

 bridge with approaches. Under our plans, by rejecting bids and re- 

 letting, a similar bridge was built last year for $2,750.00. In the ad- 

 joining county of Polk where a similar condition existed, a contract 

 was closed upon our plans and by our advice in which all bids were 

 rejected two different times, the first received being over $5,000.00. 

 The contract price was finally closed for $2,650.00 or about one-half that 

 paid by the county for the same sized structure a few years ago, and a 

 little more than one-half the amount of the lowest bids first received. 



AVe constructed six miles of rock road for one county this year at 

 an average contract price of $4,200.00 per mile, exclusive of grading. 

 A few other roads have been built in that vicinity, under similar condi- 

 tions, which cost $5,000.00 per mile. This reduction in cost is due to the 

 difference in plans and methods for construction, and we have as good a 

 road for the less cost. 



I'hese examples will not apply throughout the State, nor is the value 

 of the State office altogether in reducing the cost of work. In some 

 cases we have increased the cost. We have changed details of numbers 

 of plans which were sent to us for advice, which neither increased nor 

 decreased the cost of the work, but give better work for the same cost. 



PERMANENCY OF CONSTRUCTION. 



Approximately, $3,000,000 was spent upon the roads of the State 

 last year, divided about equally between improved roads, the earth roads 

 and bridges and culverts. Of these three millions of dollars of expendi- 



