30 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



which did not a])ply for state aid objectiug to furnishing funds to con- 

 struct roads in otlier parts of the county in which towns did a])ply. 

 In other words, to pay a county tax when they did not apply. 



In 1899 the law had attained such a degree of perfection that it 

 was indorsed practically unanimously by the entire state of Connecticut. 

 On the assembling of the legislature in 1901 the appropriation w;;s in- 

 creased by a unanimous vote of the House and Senate to flSO.OOO. The 

 number of towns that applied exceeded the appropriation $230,000, and 

 again the scaling down process had to be resorted to, which resulted in 

 85 towns having their application reduced from $9,000 to $5,200. which 

 made a sum total to be used during the last two years of $613,000. The 

 entire money Avhich has been expended during the past eight years 

 apprppriations is $900,000. The present law provides that the state 

 shall pay two-thirds of the cost in towns where the valuation is one 

 million dollars or more, and three-fourths of the cost where the valuation 

 is less than one million dollars. 



The scope of the improvements is very wide, and a large range is 

 given all the towns in the state in the character of the work and also 

 in the material to be used and the improvement that is to be made, from 

 a first-class macadam road built under improved and scientifically tested 

 methods to the simple proposition of removing boulders from out of 

 the traveled path, the gutters, and the margins, and rounding up this 

 last named requirement by simply turnpiking the section from which 

 these boulders have been removed. Indeed, we find that the majority of 

 our towns in Connecticut are very well content to cut down excessive 

 grades to a minimum, lift up all the low or wet places, put in a system 

 of gravel construction and a good system of drainage, remove unnecessary 

 distance by straightening the road wherever it is neccessary, by the re- 

 moval of unnecessary curves. 



The inspectors appointed by the commissioner are as a rule selected 

 from the board of selectmen, the choice generally being the first select- 

 man. The reason for the selection of the first selectman is the educa- 

 tion gained while acting as inspector over the work is retained in the 

 town; the second reason is, he has an added interest in having the work 

 done well, and the townspeople prefer to have one' of their own town 

 over the work rather than an outsider. The third reason is it is a great 

 saving of money, as the state does not- have to pay railroad expenses, 

 carriage hire, or hotel bills. 



What has been done in Connecticut, it is safe to say can be done in 

 the State of Michigan. I do not say that this law in its entirety would 

 be applicable to the State of Michigan. I do say, however, that the 

 main features of the law, a highway commissioner should be appointed 

 who would be competent to take up this great question of road reforma-^ 

 tion in your State, and carefully investigate for himself what is neces- 

 sary to be done to establish, under some intelligent plan, a betterment 

 of your system of highways throughout the State. 



I do not think it wise, from my own personal knowledge, of what is 

 required in the establishment of a system anticipating the improvement 

 of your highways, to appropriate one dollar for road construction in 

 advance of an appropriation for the future until a thorough and com- 

 plete investigation has been made of the conditions of the highways of 

 the State, the material available, and the proper methods to pursue. 

 For every dollar you expend in attaining information along the lines I 



