S66 STATE BOARD OF AGRICITLTUEE. 



In the history of our State our roads in general improve until they reach a 

 certain point, when improvement seems to stoji, and they either remain in no 

 better condition or commence a process of deterioration. Tlie amount expended 

 is sufficient to keep our roads constantly improving- ; but when we find they do 

 not improve we are forced to believe that there are 



EREOKS IlSr OUK EOAD SYSTEM. 



Throughout our State, excepting perhaps the cities, the feudal syK-tem of pay- 

 ing the road tax by labor is in force. This system is attended with many evils, 

 and has so far as I can learn been universally unproductive of good results. 

 Most European countries have now abandoned this system, and have found that 

 a very much lighter tax paid in money will give better roads. The evils which 

 prevent any degree of perfection attending the workings of this system will gen- 

 erally be found to be : 1, Lack of a well developed plan of work ; 2, Lack of 

 capable superintendents ; and 3, Lack of interest in the workmen. 



The details of the system now in force in this State, and to which it will be 

 sho^vn that all these objections ap2:)ly, may be summed up as follows : The gen- 

 eral superintendency of the higliways and bridges is given in each township to 

 the commissioner of highways, who is elected by ballot for one year, and whose 

 duties consist in the proper subdivision of liis township into districts and the 

 general direction of the work. He may be fined for any deficiency occasioned 

 by his neglect of duty. At each town meeting an overseer for each road district 

 is chosen viva voce, whose duty is to take immediate charge of the work in his 

 district and see that each inhabitant discharges his road tax as provided by law ; 

 he is also liable to a fine for any neglect of duty. 



The errors of this system are best shown by its practical workings. The want 

 of a general plan is seen in the lack of continuity of effort, and is shown by the 

 fact that a little is generally done in one portion of tlie district one year and in 

 some other portion the next year, while underlying this is no scheme for 

 general improvement, and no ambition to improve the road above a certain 

 point. The lack of capable superintendents is patent to everybody. The build- 

 ing of roads is a life stud}-, and a person who makes this a life business expects 

 and is worth a good salary. The men Avho have generally filled the position of 

 commissioner liave known little about their work, and aj^parently have cared 

 still less ; and the small compensation they receive has been adequate pay for 

 their services, for under their management our roads have had no tendenc}'' 

 towards a better condition. One would naturally suppose that no want of inter- 

 est could pervade the men on a work so important to themselves as this ; but 

 the well-known fact is, that in most parts of the country labor on the road is 

 regarded as M'asted effort, and each acts as though striving with his neighbor to 

 see who could do the least amount of Avork ; and it is seldom that a man is 

 found willing to do the honest amount required of him by law. 



TO GET BETTEll ROADS 



it is evident that we must adopt some system which shall ]je free from these 

 striking defects, or else make some radical change in the management of the 

 present system. There are many reasons to lead us to infer that our roads 

 would be improved very much, and their actual cost would be no greater, if the 

 feudal system of working our roads were replaced by one under the supervision 

 of a competent man, in which the road tax should be paid in money and the 

 work done to a certain extent by contract. The amount of v/ork done per mile 



