280 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



penditure. The plans of the engineers must be approved by 

 the county commissioners, or the towns, as now, before they 

 can be carried out. It would seem, however, that existing laws 

 need to be changed in two particulars at least to carry out such 

 a plan as has been suggested. In the place of a jury, in cases 

 of non-agreement between parties, who have power, not only to 

 revise the award of damages, but even to change the plan of the 

 location of a road, the superior court should appoint a commis- 

 sion of disinterested men to examine the case, and simply revise, 

 or confirm, in the matter of damages, and nothing else. We 

 have found juries to be very unreliable in such cases. If they 

 can agree, they are almost sure to decide unfairly in favor of the 

 claimants for more damages. 



It is also suggested that all the money, or means, raised for 

 highways should be collected like other taxes in " legal tender,^'' 

 and none of it in labor. This " working out taxes," as some- 

 times allowed, is a challenge for shirk and laziness, and a very 

 poor financial scheme. Let the work be advertised, and given 

 to the lowest responsible bidder, so far as it can be done by con- 

 tract ; and put the day work under the charge of thorough and 

 experienced foremen, and the competent superintendent will 

 then make the most of the means at his command. 



The importance of some such plan as we have suggested for 

 the skilful engineering and superintendence of our public roads 

 can hardly be exaggerated. The proof of bad management is 

 apparent everywhere in our poorly constructed, and more sadly 

 neglected, public ways. 



We are confident that the plan would prove a financial econo- 

 mizer, rather than a bill of expense ; and that the people could 

 thus be gradually educated to appreciate better roads, and be 

 made willing to undergo still heavier taxation for the perfection 

 of the system. 



It is not intended to suggest in detail the constitution of the 

 " board of commissioners," or the " corps of engineers," above 

 named, but simply that the State does not need any highly hon- 

 orable and dignified commission to make lengthy and very sci- 

 entific reports, or a corps of distinguished engineers to ride 

 through the country and give orders, but only a few sensible and 

 practical men, who will understand their work, and do it in the 

 best and most economical manner. 



