FAILURE OF ROADWAY SURFACE DUE TO POOR FOUNDATIONS
It is self-evident that politicians who reap the benefit of having their servants in control of public works will oppose the policy of educating the people. It is well known that many of these satellites, through either purpose or ignorance, place the personnel of highway organizations, the development of systems of highways, the employment of labor and the purchase of materials used in construction and maintenance, directly in the hands of political parties. Graft, waste, and extravagance are coupled with this practice. It should not be lost sight of, however, that a considerable percentage of the waste of public funds on highway improvement is also directly attributable to laymen in control of highway work, whose intentions are of the best, but whose knowledge of the fundamental principles is so meagre that it is impossible for them to carry out their good resolutions in an economical manner.
The conclusion has been reached that the work of enlightening the public and improving existing conditions in our States, counties, towns, and municipalities rests upon the engineer. His attitude toward the people must be changed. He must not confine himself strictly to engineering. He must not address the public in engineering language. He must not be a recluse, and he must look with
FAILURE OF ROADWAY SURFACE DUE TO POOR FOUNDATIONS
HIGHWAY TWO DAYS AFTER COMPLETION Example of poor selection of type of construction due to insufficient preliminary investigation
favor upon contact with the people through the medium of the offices at their disposal and appearance at their public meetings.
The highway engineer must explain to the public in the language of the people the work for which the highway official is held responsible; he must outline the necessary qualifications which the highway officials must possess in order to perform their duties efficiently; he must bring to its attention the evils of political control and the waste of public funds through ignorance; and he must outline methods by which efficient, honest, broad-minded engineers may be secured to hold, throughout good behavior and efficient service, the multitude of offices required to carry on the highway work of this country.
If the plan of educating the public is to be adopted, it will be necessary to popularize engineering and to use every form of advertising adaptable to our purposes. Notable work along this line has been done by the eminent engineer
ENGLISH COUNTY MAIN HIGHWAY, 22 FEET WIDE Example of proper width of roadway for trunk highway
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