The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-03-26
ADVICE TO sELECTMEN.

Circular From Highway Commissioner
 Macdonald State Aid Ceases April
 20
 Highway Commissioner Macdonald has issued thefollowing circular to the selectmen of the various towns of the state:
 I have fixed April 20 as the final day for towns to apply for state aid. The numerous requirements of the law un- der which have to work entail con- siderable time in the carrying out, prior to the letting of the contract, and so much valuable time was lost last year, getting ready, that the roads were thrown very late into the fall. The fall is not a good time to build roads in. The best season to construct our roads is when the weather is warm and free from rain. Our best work has been done in the hot months of the year and if your town intends to take advantage of chapter CCXXIX, entitled, "An act for the improvement of Public Roads," I wish you would have the town meet ing called as soon as possible and file your application, so that you may get started early.
 The commissioner has also added the following instructions regarding work on new roadways:
 Now, just a word in regard to having your survey made. When your engin- ger is surveying for the road will you kindly have him place on his map that is to be sent to me for approval the character of the soil so that I may be able to determine the proper depth of stone to be used. This will not take him long, as it can readily be told by walking over it, together with the in- formation which you may be able to give him what the character of the soil is, and then I can readily specify the proper depth of pavement to go on each particular part of the road. If a. good gravel foundation is already
 there, why, it would suggest naturally that we do not need that depth of stone that it would require where it is sandy, or where it is swampy or liable to heave, and if he will mark on his plan
 between the stations the character of the soil, it will enable me to save thou
 sands of dollars, and increase the dis tance that your town may have of
 road I think this is very important, and want to make the money in my hands go just as far as possible, and
 where it is not necessary to lay hea- | wy payment, why, propose not to do | so.
 As go on in my work, new features | present themselves from time to time by reason of the experience 1 get, l which will be of valuable assistance to | the towns in carrying on this work and 1 this is one of them. I have seen quite l a number of roads where a less depth | of stone would have done, but it will | be obvious to you, that with the whole ! state to look after, I cannot go and | inspect every road before the plans are | is drawn, some assistance may be
 given me, whereby good deal of the
 time I have to use ill minor matters l will be taken care of, and that I will
 have more opportunity to go out into l the towns before the work is started. | Where I have had an opportunity to do | so, I have been able to do a great deal | of good I believe a great deal of money | has been wasted by putting in more
 stone than was actually required, and
 I desire to obviate that, so far as pos l sible, by the suggestion I make at this
 time. Very respectfully yours, | J. H. Macdonald, Highway Commissioner,