40 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



that changed we can look about and find what system it would be best 

 for us to adopt when we do get it. 



In Massachusetts, the state builds state roads, and after building 

 them keeps them in repair. They are built from city to city and prac- 

 tically are great and grand boulevards, fine residence streets, and, as 

 Massachusetts is rich and can afford such luxuries and is satisfied to 

 pay for them, it is all right that she should have them; but that plan 

 will never do for our State. 



In New York, the state will give as much money for permanent road 

 building as will the county and township, and last year the state's 

 share was |800,000 and the smaller political divisions the same, making 

 a total of |1, 000,000 expended on permanent roads in that state in one 

 year, but, like Massachusetts, they build very costly roads and like 

 Massachusetts they can afford them, for the taxes largely come from 

 the franchise and kindred taxes, but their plan will not answer for 

 Michigan. 



In Vermont, they make an appropriation for permanent roads from 

 the general funds of the state. They divide that appropriation by 

 the number of miles of road in the state, which gives the allotment per 

 mile, and they give this to any town in the state that builds a piece of 

 permanent gravel, or other metaled road, according to the required speci- 

 fications of the state highway commissioner, that costs as much as the 

 allotment. This I like iu part, but I think that the state should only 

 help those that are willing to do something themselves. 



In Connecticut, we find in my estimation the ideal plan, for there the 

 state gives a certain amount of aid to any township in the state that 

 will raise a certain sum and will build a piece of permanent gravel or 

 stone road. This has been adopted by every town in the state with the 

 exception of three. 



Michigan should adopt the Connecticut system, that is as in Ver- 

 mont, make an allotment on the basis of mileage that there is in the 

 township, and as they do in Connecticut only where the township raises 

 its part and builds a permanent road, according to the required stan- 

 dard of the state commissioner. 



Where would this piece of road be built? Where the township board 

 said build it, and under the supervision of the township highway com- 

 missioner who would Imve the specifications of the State Highway Com- 

 missioner to guide him, and when the road was built it would be in- 

 spected by the State Highway Commissioner and if found up to the stand- 

 ard the township would receive from the State the State aid. 



This would give a good roads school in every township in the State, 

 and your township highway commissioners would become scientific 

 road builders and you would keep them in year after year, and the over- 

 seers of highways who w^ould have the guiding of the statute labor 

 would take pattern after the work done under the supervision of the 

 State Highway Commissioner and you would find that their work would 

 improve. 



But, you would find, after you had this system well organized, that 

 townships would of their own free will and accord vote to pay their road 

 taxes in cash and put all of this money into the hands of the township 

 highway commissioner, who would use only what was absolutely neces- 

 sary for the repairing of the poor dirt roads, and as much every year as 

 he possibly could for building gravel and stone roads, and in ten years 



