382 ANNUAL EEPOKTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



workable manner considerable detailed highway information. This 

 work has not only been of value to the State highway departments 

 and this office, but is proving of value to other branches of the Gov- 

 ernment. Copies of the completed maps are supplied to the Post 

 Office Department, Geological Surve}^ and the War Department. 

 In certain localities additional data have also been collected and in- 

 dicated on the maps. 



During the year field surveys have been made in cooperation with 

 the State highway departments covering that portion of Maryland 

 east of the meridian, through Washington, or about two-thirds of the 

 entire State; the coastal portion, or 37.4 per cent of the State of New 

 Jersey ; the coastal portion or 39.3 per cent of the State of Connecti- 

 cut; the coastal portion or 65 per cent of the State of Florida; and in 

 addition an area in the vicinity of Camp Lee, near Petersburg, Va. 



A set of instructions has been compiled in order that the work of 

 a similar character may be carried out in the various States inde- 

 pendent of the assistance from the Government. 



ECONOMIC STUDIES OF STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEMS. 



In an endeavor to segregate the information wdiich might prove 

 useful in the further development of highway management a very 

 thorough investigation was completed during the year as to the or- 

 ganization, personnel, powers, and duties of State and local highway 

 forces. The study also included the classification of highways and 

 a study of the procedure followed in their construction and mainte- 

 nance. The method of raising and handling funds for road pur- 

 poses has been prominently placed in the study. 



The results of this study are being published in installments in 

 Public Eoads under the caption State Highway Management Control 

 and Procedure. 



GENERAL ECONOMIC AND STATISTICAL WORK. 



Current data were collected and published in regard to State high- 

 way mileage and expenditures and to automobile registrations and 

 the disposition of these revenues. It was found that during the 

 calendar year 1917 the cash expenditures on our rural roads and 

 bridges amounted to a grand total of $279,915,332. Of this total 

 $98,179,332, consisting of $47,290,790 State and $50,888,542 local 

 funds, was expended under the supervision and control of the several 

 State highway departments. 



It was also found that a total of 4,983,340 motor cars, including 

 commercial vehicles, and 257,522 motor cycles were registered in the 

 48 States and the District of Columbia. The sum of $37,501,237 was 

 collected in registration and license fees, including those of chauf- 

 feurs, operators, and dealers. Of these fees about 67 per cent, or 

 $23,235,898, was expended more or less directly under the control and 

 supervision of the several State highway departments. As the entire 

 amount of State funds devoted to rural road and bridge work w^as 

 $47,290,790, those derived from the registration and licensing of 

 motor vehicles, chauffeurs, operators, and dealers formed about 49 

 per cent of the total. 



