If the State Highway Department is to proceed with any considerable amount of work with State forces, it will be necessary to purchase some additional equipment so that the work may be prosecuted more economically, especially is this true of concrete bridge work and general maintenance work. These are special types of work and special types of equipment are necessary to handle them properly.
During the past year a great amount of equipment has been rented from private contractors and in case of short jobs and on special types of work, this is economical, but on long jobs, it is much more economical to purchase the necessary machinery as the amount paid out in rentals for a period of six or eight months is a considerable portion of the purchase price.
During the past season a warehouse was built by the Department for the purpose of housing construction equipment. This warehouse is located on State property near the Penitentiary. It is 40 by 80 feet in size and has railroad facilities.
All idle equipment and left over material is shipped to Salem, for storage, at the close of the season. There the equipment is overhauled, repaired, repainted, and placed in readiness for the next season’s work. The warehouse was built by the Department with day labor.
It will probably be advisable during the coming year to erect two more units to the warehouse to take care of a larger amount of equipment and provide for repair shop and garage.
A garage was rented at 660 North Capitol Street, Salem, and an efficient automobile mechanic was placed in charge. By this means the automobiles of the Department are kept in good repair, oiled and tires vulcanized. Facilities are provided also for overhauling and repainting, which effects a considerable saving.
OFFICE ORGANIZATION
The work handled in the offices of the State Highway Department is of four classes, each requiring specialized training, and, in a way, of little or no relation to each other. For this reason, the office organization consists of four different offices or departments: the General Office, the Auditing Department, the Office Engineering Department and the Bridge Department. The work of these departments is outlined in the following paragraphs.
General Office.—All business of the Highway Commission and all business of the Department with the public is transacted through the General Office. Under the direction of the Secretary of the Commission and the First Assistant Engineer, this office handles all correspondence, the issuance of bonds, the execution of contracts, the purchase of supplies and equipment, and all general office detail.
The seal of the State Highway Commission and the minutes of the Commission meetings are in the custody of the Secretary. All mail is received and distributed through the Secretary’s office, and in it filed all correspondence, legal documents, etc. This office also keeps a record of all State equipment and takes care of the charging out of rental and depreciation on same.