300 \\XIAI. UKImiut Of THE Off. Doc. 



It appears that in rural districts the want of information and lack 

 of interest in road improvement, with the low valuation of real es- 

 tate, causes these people to hesitate and halt before applying for 

 Slate aid, especially when reconstructed roads are repotted to have 

 cest from two to five thousand dollars per half-mile. For with many 

 more miles remaining untouched for many years to come those not 

 having any benefits of the improvement will hardly tax themselves 

 for another's benefit. 



The result is that the people living in strictly rural townships will 

 hardly become beneficiaries of the State aid. They put in no appli- 

 cation, and the roads adjacent to cities and towns are put in good 

 condition, enhancing the value of land near cities and towns, while 

 the rural roads will remain in about the same condition as hereto- 

 fore. 



Suburban communities are availing themselves of the State appro- 

 priation, and from present indications will get the largest share of 

 the road fund. This result is also brought about through natural 

 conditions to a certain extent. The principal roads near cities and 

 large towns and railroad stations are being the most traveled in 

 nearly all communities, and are naturally the ones on which to begin 

 reconstruction. 



Now in order to have sufficient funds for road improvement so 

 that the strictly rural townships, which are at present taxed to the 

 limit, need not pay the proportion of the cost as at present, might 

 it not be well to have an investigation of the taxation of railroads. 

 oil, telegraph, telephone and trolley lines, as to the valuation and 

 other questions. These interests should pay the same proportion 

 of taxes as is paid by other property holders. Another means of 

 assistance in road improvement could be secured by compelling 

 our thousands of convicts to work on the highways instead of com- 

 peting with honest mechanics in the different trades. These convict 

 laborers could be guarded by the recently organized State Con- 

 stabulary- therebv making this organization useful as well as orna 

 mental. 



In view of the fact that for generations to come there will yet re- 

 main many highways unreconstructed in the rural districts, and that 

 as the State aid fund should benefit all sections of the State regard- 

 less of their ability to pay their share towards macadamizing under 

 State supervision, we recommend that the pro rata share of each 

 township not applying for State aid, and which under the present 

 laws reverts back to the general fund, be. instead, allotted to all such 

 townships upon the same plan as now is the school appropriation, 

 and to be applied for the betterment of their highways, with certain 

 restrictions, and on a plan of operation similar to that introduced 

 by the Mapes Good Road Club, of Middletown, New York. 



This system of road improvement appears to be the next best 

 method to the macadam and at about one-thirty-fifth the cost. We 

 consider it of such merit that it is included in this report, and with 

 the hope that a copy of the same may reach every township super- 

 visor in the State. The plan of operation is as follows: The first step 

 is to stake out the work by making a light furrow on each side of 

 the proposed road-work 12 to 16 feet apart, according to the width 

 of the road. Next put the wheel of the road machine in this light 

 furrow, hold the point of the blade firmly down in place, remove every 



