No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 389 



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work thereon has not been commenced, and about eighty-five miles 

 in preparation for bids and advertising. 



Native stone or stone along the line of the road have been used, 

 where it was suitable, for the bottom course of either Macadam or 

 Telford, the top course having been trap rock or hard limestone. 

 In addition to the above, the Department during the past year has 

 supervised the construction of over twenty-four miles in the town- 

 ship of Bensalem and Middleton, Bucks county. Both of these 

 townships issued bonds to pay for these improvements. 



As no mention is made in this report as to what extent the town- 

 ship or contractors put in bids and were awarded the work, as also 

 the relative cost of these different roads, we are unable to give this 

 very important information. 



Now as to the issuing of bonds to pay for township road recon- 

 struction, I doubt whether this is a wise thing to do in a purely 

 farming section. We know of a road built on this plan through a 

 thickly populated section of Lehigh county, known as the cement 

 region, which was constructed to make the cement works more easy 

 of access to those interested. This improvement was, however, 

 not necessary, as the road is one much traveled. Yet many of the 

 taxpayers of this township are greatly displeased since the road is 

 constructed with this bonded indebtedness, as alst) of the uses made 

 of this road by automobiles, which incommode other users of the road. 

 This abuse has become so flagrant that the authorities have men 

 stationed to watch and keep in check drivers of more recklessness 

 than sense, and thus endeavor to guard the lives of both the users 

 of the road by horse conveyance as well as those using the auto- 

 mobiles. These features of the question have made the people a little 

 shy of any further reconstruction even by State aid. 



The motor car has come to stay, and the situation must be faced. 

 The automobile has no more rights on the highways than any other 

 vehicle. Being a new and unfamiliar machine, it is for the autoist 

 to drive so as not to frighten other users of the roads. What is 

 complained of is simply the entire disregard of all other's rights 

 that is displayed by many autoists. This attitude is shared by 

 every sensible pei-son, including the many estimable gentlemen who 

 run motor cars as they should be operated. It may be necessary in 

 the near future to pass more stringent laws regulating the manner 

 of use of this mode of conveyance on the public highways. 



In order to get some of the sentiments of the people on the new 

 road law of 1903, we have sent letters of inquiry to different sec- 

 tions of the State, and herewith give a few of the replies received. 



From a supervisor who states that there are four supervisors in 

 his township, and that they do not take any interest in the new 

 road law. From another, who claims that as tenant or share- 

 farmers, as per the customary farm leases, are obliged to pay or 

 work out the road taxes, and being, as a class, poor, they object to 

 any change that might be likely to cause higher taxation. Another 

 supervisor says that the amount of state aid allotted to a township 

 is too small' to make it worth while considering the matter. 



A taxpayer replies that he believes that strictly agricultural 

 communities would, in his lifetime, not derive any benefit under 

 the new law, but that suburban districts will become the principal 

 beneficiaries. Another, who believes that the people are gradually 



