The proper management of the common roads in any community requires both experience and intelli gence. A man to be efficient in such work must be able to make or modify location where necessary, judge of the value of various materials for purposes of construction, determine the necessity for and means to be adopted for drainage, and possess the executive ability to manage men and control scattered work. The work in each locality is a problem by itself, to be solved by careful study of the requirements of the community, taking into account the local natural conditions and available materials and means.
Several of the states have State Highway Commis sions, or State Highway Engineers, for the purpose of promoting the improvement of the country roads.
These commissions are usually mainly advisory in character. They investigate and report upon the condition and needs of the roads, advise the local authorities concerning the best methods of construction, furnishing plans and specifications if desired, and control the expenditure of state funds applied to road purposes. These commissions have accomplished much
in the way of improving existing conditions in several states, and have done much toward creating sentiment favorable to the expenditure of funds for such work.
In Missouri the new road law provides a combined county and district management. It creates the office of County Road Engineer to be appointed by the county court. The County Engineer has direct charge of the expenditure of the general county road and bridge fund, and all district road supervisors in the county are required to report to him and to conduct their work under his general direction. The purpose is to provide a competent central authority in each county, without changing the existing division into road districts. There is also a State Highway Engineer whose duties are to advise with the local authorities, and to dis tribute and control the expenditure of state appro priations in aid of road improvement.