REPORT OF STATE HIGHWAY ENGINEER. 



Columbia, Mo., Dec. 15th, 1908. 

 To the Honorable Members of the State Board of Agriculture: 



Gentlemen — Looking back over the season's work, a decided 

 improvement is evident all along the line. Many things can still 

 be seen which might be improved upon and many more which 

 should be improved upon where the conditions will not permit. 

 No man's foresight is so good as his back-sight, for it is only by 

 the past that we can judge the future. The best results are to be 

 obtained from a study of the scrap pile. Road officials are there- 

 fore advised to look back over the season's work and to study the 

 scrap heap. 



Reviewing the past year's work of the State Highway De- 

 partment, I find that the Department's representatives have visit- 

 ed about 100 separate localities for the purpose of attending meet- 

 ings, making road addresses, or for investigating and giving 

 advice upon road and bridge matters. Few hard surfaced roads 

 have been made under our supervision, the greater number of our 

 calls being for consultation upon earth roads, culverts or bridges. 

 The Department has sent out 15 steel bridge plans, aggregating 

 2,600 linear feet of bridging at an estimated cost of $37,000.00; 

 72 concrete bridge and culvert plans aggregating about 760 lin. 

 feet of bridging at an estimated cost of $25,000.00. A total 

 aggregate of 87 structures— 3,360 lin. feet and $62,000.00 cost. 

 These plans were made for and upon request of the County High- 

 Vvay Engineers, and about 25 per cent have been contracted for 

 and built. 



At the instigation of the State Department, the county engi- 

 neers have formed a highway engineers' association of the State, 

 the object and purpose being to secure uniformity of methods, the 

 establishment of closer relations and the advancement of knowl- 

 edge pertaining to road building and maintenance among the 

 county engineers. 



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