668 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. I>oc. 



end to the other with mounted policemen and lighted with electric 

 light. So I can say that a township or county can build a mile or 

 two of road each year without increasing the tax rate. Great inter- 

 est is being taken with reference to the improvement of the roads in 

 the lower counties of the State. I would say that in Bensalem town- 

 ship, Bucks county, notably, they voted at the fall election for a 

 bond issue of |75,000 and it carried at the rate of seven to one in 

 favor of the loan. 



COL. DEMMING: During the past nine years that 1 have been 

 acting as State Geologist, since the death of J. P. Leslie, I would 

 state to the gentleman that I have gathered a lot of information 

 that I think would be of benefit to the proposed new roads. He re- 

 fers to the material for roads and he places basalt first. I v/ould 

 say first in quality is basalt, then trap and cyanite third, and lime- 

 stone about the last for this reason: That in localities where lime- 

 stone is used on roads you mIH notice that people are afflicted with 

 eye troubles. In this State, where there are limestone roads, you 

 will note that more eye-glasses and spectacles are used, which is on 

 account of there being more poisonous matters in the limestone than 

 any other stone used in connection with road improvements, which 

 is on account of the dust of the limestone flying around. In every 

 part of the State there is good material to select from. I think that 

 the material to be used should be left to the Highway Commissioner 

 instead of to the county commissioners. I am glad to know that in 

 Pennsylvania we are going to have good roads. Sometime ago I 

 had occasion to do some geological work in New Jersey and it was 

 a pleasure to travel over the roads of that State. 



MR. SCHWAKZ: I can say that I am one of the original good 

 roads-men in the State. I would like to know whether the Commis 

 sioner would allow me to ask a number of questions. 



The CHAIRMAN: Commissioner Hunter will be ready to answer 

 any questions that may be asked. 



MR. SCHWARZ: My only reason is, that I am anxious to have 

 good roads in Pennsylvania; but there are some things in this bill 

 that don't exactly touch the spot. I want to ask v,hether you are 

 going to recommend to the next legislature any changes in the law, 

 or whether you consider the law perfect as it is now? 



MR. HUNTER: In reply to the gentleman I would say, that in this 

 little address I said that the law might not be ideal. There are some 

 changes that should and 1 believe will be made. 



MR. SCHWARZ: I saw Senator Roberts and had a talk with him 

 about this bill and he said he was going to agitate some changes. 



