242 DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. 



The sections of road selected for these experiments are located near 

 the old McMillan Church and radiate from the church in four differ- 

 ent directions, about a quarter of a mile of macadam road being con- 

 structed on each of these radiating roads. A West Virginia bi-ick- 

 making establishment presented the township with a carload of paving 

 brick, which was also used in making an experimental piece of brick 

 road on the section leading from the McMillan Church toward Can- 

 onsburg. 



Under a new law, permitting the employment of convicts on the 

 public roads of Pennsylvania, about a dozen prisoners from the county 

 jail were used in quarrying the stone and in building this experimental 

 piece of road. The use of convicts proved entirely satisfactory, and 

 it seems probable that Washington and adjacent counties will in the 

 future utilize misdemeanor convicts in similar work. 



Washington County is very hilly and some grading had to be done. 

 After this was completed the foundations were well drained, prepared, 

 and rolled in the usual manner, and the stone was applied in three 

 separate layers, each layer being rolled until smooth and compact. 

 The width of the material was about 1 feet and the depth when rolled 

 about 6 inches. Wide earth shoulders were prepared on each side 

 sloping uniformly to the side ditches in such a way as to allow vehicles 

 to pass. After a sufficient amount of road had been built, a "road 

 day " was arranged for, and the farmers from every section of that 

 and adjacent counties were invited. This demonstration was planned 

 for tlie purpose of spreading knowledge of road making among the 

 farmers and county road officials. The meeting was well attended, 

 about 500 farmers being present, and the work seemed to arouse the 

 entire countryside. 



The following letter from Congressman Acheson shows his apprecia- 

 tion of the work done in Washington County by this Office: 



Washington, D. C, February 1, 1901. 



Sir: Inclosed find letter of ex-Sheriff W. C. Ramsey, of Washington County, 

 Pa., in reference to the cooperation of your Department in the construction of a 

 sample road in South Franklin Township of that county. In this connection, I 

 wish to say that the experiment made in Washington County last fall under the 

 direction of Mr. Eldridge awakened a deep interest among the farmers, and has 

 done a great deal to promote the cause of good roads. I should like to see the 

 appropriation increased, so that you coiald undertake such exjjeriments in every 

 county in the country. 



Yours, truly, Ernest F. Acheson, M. C. 



KANSAS. 



A very successful State good-roads convention was held at Topeka, 

 Kans. , September 25-28, 1900. The citizens of Shawnee County raised 

 the necessary funds to build 1^ miles of macadamized road, a section 

 of which was constructed under the supervision of Mr. E. G. Harri- 

 son, of this Office. The rock for this work was shipped in already 

 crushed, being a by-product from one of the mines near Topeka. Tlie 

 construction of the road was carried on during the convention, thus 

 serving as an object lesson. Mi*. Harrison and the Director were on 

 the ground dui'ing the progress of the work in order to explain the 

 details of practical and theoretical road building to the delegates. 

 Two carloads of macliinery for this Avork were loaned by the Port 

 Huron ICngine and Thresher Company, and were carried to Topeka by 

 the railroads without cost to this Office. 



The objects of this convention were to awaken and promote a gen- 

 eral interest in the improvement of the public roads of Kansas, and 



