LOOKING BACK

A Marion Type 21 shovel loads dump trucks for the Chester Vulcanite Pavement Co. of Rochester, N.Y., in 1926. The shovel was powered by electricity furnished by an on-board gas generator. Photo courtesy of the Historical Construction Equipment Association, a nonprofit organization that is preserving the history of construction, surface mining and dredging information. For further information, contact the HCEA at 16623 Liberty Hi Road, Bowling Green, OH 43402, or call 419/352-5616, Internet address: www.hcea.net.

What happened in the highway/bridge industry in 1926 . . .

The growing interest in and commitment to improving the nation's roads during the 1920s is underscored by the surging popularity of the American Road Builders Association's "Road Show" during the decade. The 1926 show, held in Chicago's Coliseum, boasted a record 295 exhibitors. The 15,000 attendees included highway engineers and officials, contractors and manufacturer's representatives. Source: Are We There Yet? Building America's Transportation Infrastructure Network, written by John Yow. The book celebrates the 100th anniversary of the American Road & Transportation Builders Association.

What happened in the world in 1926 . . .

* Richard Byrd and Floyd Bennett fly from Spitsbergen to the North Pole and back.

* A general strike in Britain brings the nation's activities to a standstill.

* RCA, General Electric and Westinghouse establish NBC, which operates two national radio networks.

* The St. Louis Cardinals defeat the New York Yankees in the World Series.