The State Highway Department owns construction and hauling equipment to
the approximate value of $100,000.00. This equipment is too varied and
extensive to be shown in detail in this report. However, it includes six
heavy auto trucks, two light auto trucks, twenty-two touring cars, three
concrete mixers, two gasoline locomotives, three road rollers, one Brown
hoist, one asphalt paving plant, three rock crushers and an extensive
supply of camp equipment, small tools, drills, steel, pipe, etc.
Most of this equipment is in fine working condition and adaptable to
general highway work and has been used during the past year. However, we
have on hand a certain amount of machinery which was bought for special
purposes in former years, and while it has no doubt made a saving
sufficient to justify its original cost, the Department has no more use
for it and it would be advantageous to the Department if this equipment
could be disposed of and the money invested in more necessary machinery.
Under present conditions, the State law makes it necessary to return any
money from the sale of materials, supplies or equipment into the General
Fund of the State, and it is impossible to get this money back into
highway funds without a special act of the Legislature. Despite this
fact, however, some equipment was disposed of during the past year and
the money turned into the General Fund.
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.