The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-03-23
STATE HIGHWAY COMMISSIONS.


Vork being Done In the Various sessss
For Better Country Roads.
The investigation Of road management
and road construction throughout the
United States now conducted by the
agricultural department u 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
Classics the roads, establishes the dis
tncts, appoints commissioners and as
eesses the road taxes.
vermont. New Hampshire, North
Dakota and Oregon are deemed conspic.
nous examples Of the class of increased
tax levies, the last named allowing coun-
ty courts to levy a special tar Of 50 cents
on 600 and e per head for county
road fund.
Abolition Of the local taxes Is abso-
solute in New Jersey and almost abso-
lutte In Wisconsin. Construction on the
local assessment plan extending TO q
limit of three miles on each side Of the
line road obtains to some extent in Ore
gon, Indiana and by special acts In Ohio.
In Oregon the county may assume 50 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.
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
q popular vote il required to authorize
the issue.
"State 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.
sets, however. there Is 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
jails or workhouses available for high
way labor.
New Jersey isprobably the only state
giving direct aid to bodybuilding. This
cid IL limited to one-third Of the roads
built by the counties and to the sum Of
$4,000 PER annum. The highway com.
miuion Of Pennsyivanis has reported Z
bin for state aid 20 TIE amount Of q 600.
900 Per annum to Be Distributed among
the Ownership In proportion to the road
tn paid by them. The townships. &C.
cording to this bill. must set aside Is per
cent Of their tax for making permanent
roadways. Cooperative bodybuilding,
- provided for in New Jersey, has been
very successful. Abutting landowner
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 were built in 1892, Is in 1893,
and 81 are applied for by landowners foz
1eoA"-Minneapolis Tribune.