The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1892-01-28
State budget to pay the cost of making
and mainta lining the public roads.


and maintaining the public roads.
In italy the Minister of public works
is at the head of the Department Of
of public roads. The construction of
these roads is, i'm most cases. under
taken by contracts, the work being
carried on under direction of Govern
ment engineers. These contracts ex-
tend also to the work OF maintenance
and repair, and include the transport
of materials, the cost Of earth works,
drainage, masonry ,iroh-
works, stoneWurk, removal Of snow,
mud and dust and the care of border
trees planted along the sides Of the
highways. The contracto or is bound to
deposit \ fixed sum of m"ney in the
hands Of the public officials, to insure
the performance of lis contract, and
on the termination of 4 contract, the
road must he delivered up in perfect
order and repair to arsWtr the drs-
criptiou contained in the specifcat ions,
and all defects becoming apparent
within one month thereafter, are made
good ut the cost Of the contractor,
under an estimate &C the chief engineer
of the district. The money deposit Of
the contractor is only returned to him
upon the compliance Of all the terms
If his contract and in case Of his neg
lect or refuial to execute the orders
conveyed to him by the highway otli
cials. the latter have power to direct
the necessary work to he carried on at
the expense Of tld contractor. A re-
petition of such offense or the perpe-
tratton of any fault on the part of the
contractor. results in the termination
of his contract and the confiscation of
his money deposit. The government
road laborers are called "Cantonniers'
and are selected with great care,
special reference being had to charac'
ter and honesty. They must be OF
robust constitution and must be able
to read aud write. Each one of these
cantonniers is provided with full set
of tools and implements specified by
law. His hours of work are from sun
rise to sunset, and each day lie is
obliged to go over the entire track Of
road placed in his charge. He must
be constantly upon the line of his work
in all kinds of weather, rnd in case oi
necessity, is bound to work on public
holidays. His chief duties are the
leveling and repair of the highways
the removal of snow, mud, dust, etc
He must assist travellers in distress
and vehicles disabled by accident or BY
weather, and for any neglect of duty
he may be fiued, suspended or dis
missed, according to the degree Of the
"ffense. The fines accnm ulating dur
ing the year are divided among the de-
serving cantonniers or given to one Of
the mutual benefit associations, oi
which they are members. Cantonniers
who serve with credit and distinction
for three or more years are promoted
and given an increase OF monthly
wages. In the five years from 1873 tc
1873, Italy spent about $4,000, 900 or
her roads. although before her appro
priation was made, many excellent
highways existed in all parts of the
kingdom. In 1881 Italy constructed
about 12O miles of new road and had
then about 11,O4O miles In course Of
construction. Mentioning the policy
of the Italian government with respect
to its maintenance Of the public roads
Mr.. Beauclerk, representing thu
British government at Rome in th'
year 1882, in his official report to th'
home cabinat said: 1T is therefor,