The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-01-18

Work Being Done In the Various States
For Better Country Roads.
The investigation Of road management
and road construction throughout tho
United States now conducted by the
agricultural department is meeting with
valuable results. The cooperation OF
the governor and secretary and geologist
Of each state in the Union, Of railroad
officials and Of other persons has been
obtained, and they show warm interest
IN the work.
Many members Of congress have also
responded to circulars sent out by AS
sistant Secretary Willets and General
Roy Stone, the special agent in charge
Of the inquiry. General Stone in re-
cent bulletin says:
"The new law of Tennessee Is consid-
cred the best example of the first class.
giving the county courts full power and
direct control over the whole subject Of
roads, eliminating the evil influences Of
local politics and the generally prevail
ing, easy going methods. The court
classifes the roads, establishes the dis
tricts, appoints commissioners and as
sesses the road taxes.
Vermont, New Hampshire, North
Dakota and Oregon are deemed conspic-
uous examples Of the class Of increased
tax levies, the last named allowing coun-
ty courts to levy special tax of 80 cents
on 800 and 81 per head for county
road fund.
Abolition Of the local taxes IN abso-
solute in New Jersey and almost abso-
lutte in Wisconsin. Construction on the
local assessment plan extending to
limit of three miles on each side Of the
line road obtains to some extent in Ore
yon, Indiana and by special acts In Ohio.
In Oregon the county may assume 80 per
cent of the cost, and in Ohio large share
Is usually placed on the county list by
the act. Extensive construction by town
ships has taken place in Pennsylvania
and New Jersey, where township bonds
have been successfully used.
1.-THE special feature Of recent legisla-
ton, however, is the county system. The
issue of county bonds is provided for in
New York, New Jersey, Indiana. Michi-
gan and Washington, but in the last two
a popular vote is required to authorize
the issue.
estate highway commissions have been
formed in Massachusetts,, Vermont,
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and in
several other states. These are generally
temporary bodies charged only to in
quire and recommend. In Massachu-
setts, however, there is a permanent COM
mission, having important duties con-
nected with actual road improvements.
New York is making an experiment of
making state prisoners work on roads
near Clinton prison, and Tennessee
makes all prisoners confined in county
iails or warehouses; available for high
way labor.
New Jersey isprobably the only state
giving direct aid to roadbuilding. This
aid is limited to one-third Of the roads
built by the counties and to the sum Of
$75 900 per annum. The highway COM
mission Of Pennsylvania has reported
bill for state aid to the amount of 81 ,000,-
900 per annum to be distributed among
the ownership in proportion to the road
tax paid by them. The townships, ac-
cording to this bill, must set aside 25 per
cent of their tax for making permanent
roadways. Cooperative roadbuilding.
as provided for in New Jersey, has been
very successful. Abutting landowners
pay one-tenth of the cost, the state one
third and the county the remainder by
sale of bonds. Under this law 10 miles
of road We're built in 1892, 25 in 1898,
and Ga are applied for by landowners for
S04."-Minneapolis Tribune.