The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-05-16
R. !. HIGHWAYS.
How the Committee Went to
Work on the Job.

tc revise and consolidate the laws relating
TO the same, Estate that in their
Investigations two methods OF obtaining
the necessary Information were adopted ;
the first to prepare circular containing a
list of questions and send the same TO each
town and city clerk; the second to per-
sonally examine the principal roads and
highways of the State, and to confer with
persons interested in and having a knowl-
edge of the subject.
A list of questions was prepared cover
ing as far as possible all the points upon
which IL seemed desirable to secure infor-
nation and printed copies were sent to
each of the town and city clerks,
with a request for full and accurate re-
plies. The committee desires to express
its thanks for the pains taken in answer
ing these questions. Here is the list of
questions:
/. What is the total numbe OF miles OF
highway in your town?
2. What is the number Of miles OF
highways in the compact portion OF the
town7
3. What Is the amount expended for
maintenance and repairs of highways for
each OF the years from 1887 to 1912
4. What is the amount of special sppro-
priations made for each of the above
years, in addition to the above expendi-
lures, for construction of highwaysH
8. How much of these expenditures
was made in money?
o. How much In labor?
z. Is your town divided into highway
districts? IL so, how many? (a) How
many miles OF highways are there in
each9 %, How much money or labor has
been spportioned in each OF the above
years to each district? (c) How many
surveyors OF highways do you haver (d)
Do they construct and repair at their own
discretion, or are they controlled by the
Council OF Commissioners?
8. II these questions do not cover your
methods of constructing and repairing
highways, please state what II is.
8. When are your appropriations made?
10. AT what season OF the year are they
extended?
(a) Is 1t sandy and well drained? (b) Is
it clayey and retentive?
IL. What materials do you use in re-
building and constructing roads?
13. What materials do you use In re-
pairing roads?
ID. What special tools and machinery,
such rs stone crushers, road machines,
road scrapers, steam rollers, ETC., have
your
15. What wages do you pay? (a) For
one man? (b) For one man, horse and
cart? (c) For one man, two horses and
cartf (d) For one man, yoke of oxen
and cart?
IS. What is the average width Of
roadbed built in your town?
IL. What is the average cost per
square yardf (a) OF Macadamized road
Estate depth OF stone). (b) II Tclford
stones, is used under Macadam, what is
the cost per square yard OF such founda,
tionf (c) OF graveled road (state depth
Of gravel). (d) OF roads constructed OF
other materials?
IS. How many miles Of Macadamized |
road have you in your town.
10. How many miles OF good graveled
road on which the gravel is at least six
inches deep?
20. What are your main or import
ant roadsH (a) Between what localities
do they lie? (b) What is their length?
(c) The average width OF the graveled
way? (d) And the average width Of the
highway?
Il. In constructing and maintaining
The highways in your town is any special |
attention paid to drainage?
e. Under what special law and town
ordinances do you act in relation to re-
pair and construction OF highways2
%. III there is any considerable carriage |
Of persons or merchandise between sur |
towns and across your town |
please, as far as possible, describe it in |
character and amount, giving also the |
names Of the towns.
"a. Please name, as far as possible, the |
in your town; and il either |
raw or manufactured stock is carted TO or |
from them over highways for any long
distance, please give the commission |
" whatever Information you can concerning
The subject that will aid them In dis
their duties.
25 Please give the commission any |
general facts at your disposal, as to the
products OF your town, their usual mar
ket, and their customary method OF con-
veyance to market.
After the work Of preparing and mail
ng the circulars had been completed, the |
committee drove over the main highways
of the State in order ~ understand their
,opdition. The roads examined are coll
bred green upon the map, which accom-
panies the report. 1t will be seen that
hey intersect nearly all sections Of the
State. The committee spent a number OF
lays in making these examinations, rid
ng an ayerape OF from twenty-fva IN