RUKAL ENGINEERING. 591 



duciiig alkali in the land are described witli a view to supplying information 

 as to tuetliods of reclaiuuug alkali laud. 



An area of SO acres was reclaimed whicli had been rendered unproductive 

 tlirougli water logging because of heavy irrigation and the accumulation of 

 alkali. The installation of a system of tile drainage at a cost of $905, or $11.30 

 per acre, was followed by a gradual disappearance of alkali, except on knolls 

 not covered, and an increase in productiveness. 



The use of explosives in clearing land, J. F. Kadonsky (Wisconsin Sta. 

 Bill. 216. pi>. 3-19, figs. 20). — Directions are given for the use of explosives in 

 removing stumps from lands and in blasting bowlders. 



Mileage and cost of pviblic roads in the United States in 1909, J. E. 

 PiJNNYPACKER, Jr.. and M. O. Eldridge [U. S. Dept, Ayr., Office Pi(h. Roads BuJ. 

 J/l, pp. 120). — This bulletin supplements Bulletin 32, previously noted (E. S. R., 

 19, p. 486), presenting data to December 31. 1909. 



The total mileage of public roads in the United States at the close of 1909 

 is estimated at 2,199,645.14 miles, of which 102.870.44 miles were surfaced with 

 gravel. 59,237.35 with stone, and 28,372.52 with other materials, or a total of 

 190,476.32 miles or 8.66 per cent as compared with 7.14 per cent in 1904. The 

 average cost i>er mile of improved roads is estimated at $723 for sand clay. 

 $2,047 for gravel, $4,989 for macadam, and $10,348 for bituminous construction. 



New Hampshire highways, C. II. Hoyt ( V. S. Dept. Agr., Office Pub. Roads 

 Bui. 1/2, pp. 35, i)ls. Jfl). — This embodies a report of an inspection of practically 

 the entire system of about 500 miles of improved highways in New Hampshire, 

 with a discussion of the highway problem in the State. 



Among the recommendations for future work are the establishment of a 

 patrol system on state roads, the continuance of state aid to towns both 

 financially and by engineering assistance, the construction of a system of state- 

 aided cross-state roads, the building of native stone macadam in preference to 

 gravel roads, the use of trap rock as a top course underlaid by native rock and 

 with a bituminous binder, the use of the split-log drag on all earth and gravel 

 roads, the replacement of wooden culverts by reinforced concrete construction, 

 and the investigation of grade crossings with a view to their elimination. 



Coke-oven tars of the United States, P. Hubbard ( U. ^. Dept. Agr., Office 

 Piih. Roads Circ. 97, pp. 11). — This circular gives the results of examinations of 

 the various coke-oven tars at present manufactured in this country, together 

 with a brief discussion of their properiies in relation to their use as road ma- 

 terials. 



The analyses disclosed wide variations in the composition of the coke-oven 

 tars produced in this country, even in tars from the same tyiie of oven. In 

 general, however, the free carbon content and proportion of total distillate to 

 pitch residue are considered well adapted to use as road builders. It is esti- 

 mated that because of the use in this country of beehive coke ovens, in which 

 the by-products are not recovered, sufficient tar alone is lost each year to build 

 9,(KK) miles of tar macadam road 15 ft. wide. The general adoption of by- 

 product ovens is strongly advocated, as it is believed that they will eAentually 

 play a most important part in the road' material industry. 



Practical poultry buildings, H. 1;. Bi.anchard (Washington Sta. Bui. If, 

 spec, ser., pp. 3-36, figs. 11). — This is a new edition of a bulletin previously 

 noted (E. S. R., 23, p. 691), to which has been added a plan and description of 

 another laying house. 



'* The Kellerstrass way " of building poultry houses, brooder houses, in- 

 cubator cellars, coops and appliances, E. Kellerstrass (Kansas City, Mo., 

 1910. pp. 92, figs. fiG). — Plans and descriptions of iwultry houses and various 

 kinds of iwultry appliances are presented. 



