The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1901-06-28

be set down as certain that we
never get good roads under our
State unless these laws provide for
tax levied by the State, by the
counties, by districts, and on the
individuals most benefited by the
construction of the road.
HOW NEW JERSEY DOES 1T.
The New Jersey law is well
worth trial in the Southern
States. 1t provides that the roads
of a township be placed under the
management of a township COM
mittee, and money may be raised
by township bonds for grading,
macadamlzing and improving the
same; bonds to be authorized by
vote of the annual town meet
ing.
The board of chosen freeholders
of any county may designate GER
tains roads as county roads and
improve the same by the issue of
county bonds.
The State shall pay one.third of
all cost of road improvement so
authorized by the chosen freehold
ers within certain limitations.
Whenever the owners of two
thirds of the lands fronting any
public road will undertake to pay
one-tenth of the cost of improving
such road it is the duty of the
board Of chosen freeholders to
cause such Improvement to be
made.
. All road taxes are paid in mon
ey.
Under the operation of this law
New Jersey has built more good
roads in proportion to population
than any other State in the Union.
IN MASSACHUSETTS,.
The Massachusetts, law is also
worthy of study. 1t provides:
That the Governor and Council
appoint three commissioners at
salary of $4,000 each and travel
ing expenses; Commission to
compile statistics, make investi-
cations, advise regarding con
alterations and mainte-
nance of roads, prepare maps J
showing the location of road ma
terials, and hold public meeting
in each county for the discussion
Of road matters at least once
year.
Upon the petition of county
the commission may
adopt any road as State highway
and construct the same if the Leg
islatures makes appropriation
except that the grading
md the bridging shall be done by
he county. Such highways to be
maintained by the State under
supervision of the commission.
Upon petition of two or more
titles or towns connecting road,
lew or existing, may be made a
State highway and constructed in
he same manner.
NORTH cARoLTNA's METHOD.
The people of the South want
rood roads, bnt they cannot make
lp their consent to pay Tor them.
North Carolina is taking the lead 4
n this matter. In whatever
ounty the citizens of the State !
AVE built one good road the ex-
mple is contagious and other
,ood roads follow. In Mecklen-
,urg County many good macada-
nized roads have been built. The 9
ity of Charlotte in that county :
las built over ninety miles of {
.ood roads at a cost Of $3.50, 900 J
nd has profited by the expendi-
ure. The average cost, according
'rof. Holmes, the State Geologist, I
) $4,000 per mile. Their width j
ear the city is 46 feet, beyond, S6 I
eet. They have a maximum i
,rade of four feet in 100. Sewer e
,ipe is used far drainage. Strong a
wooded bridges with stone piers, J
re put wherever needed. Upon I
raded and settled earth a macad- r
mized road is made IL feet wide \
nd 8 inches thick. The earth is +
xcavated from four to six inches r
Ieep and the bottom rolled with a +
team roller. A layer of field |
tone is placed on this four inches /