4-4 BtfLLETIK :^8^, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICtTLTtJBE. 



Texas has no State highway organization. Each county is di- 

 vided into four precincts from each of which a commissioner is 

 elected, with a term of two years, which commissioners, with the 

 county judge, constitute the commissioners' court. The commis- 

 sioners' court has general control and supervision over all roads, 

 bridges and ferries in the county, and is authorized to appoint one 

 road superintendent for the county or one for each commissioners' 

 precinct, as it may determine. The road superintendent so ap- 

 pointed, subject to the direction of the court, shall have general 

 supervision over all road and bridge work in the county or precinct, 

 as the case may be. The commissioners' court of the several coun- 

 ties is required to divide the county into convenient road precincts 

 and appoint a road overseer and apportion the road hands for each 

 precinct. Each road overseer is required to work the roads in his 

 precinct twice each year. The court also may employ not exceed- 

 ing four road commissioners and define and fix the districts which 

 each shall control. Each road commissioner, when employed, shall 

 have control over all the overseers, road machinery, tools, imple- 

 ments and labor in his district. 



The commissioners' court is authorized to levy annually a road 

 and bridge tax of 15 cents on each $100 of assessed property valua- 

 tion. An additional levy of 15 cents on each $100 may be made 

 by the court when authorized by vote of a majority of the quahfied 

 property taxpaying voters of the county. Road and bridge bonds 

 may be issued by any county or political subdivision or defined 

 district thereof in an amount not to exceed one-fourth of the 

 assessed value of the real property therein, when authorized by the 

 vote of a two-thirds majority of the resident property taxpayers 

 voting at an election called for that purpose. 



All male persons between 21 and 45 years of age may be required 

 to work on the roads not exceeding five days each year or to pay 

 $1 for each day of such work required of them. The law also 

 authorizes the working of county convicts on the roads. 



REVENUES AND BOND ISSUES. 



In 1914 the total revenue and bond issue money applied to roads 

 and bridges amounted to $9,920,079.11, comprising the following 

 items: county road and bridge tax, $4,064,165.98; special taxes and 

 miscellaneous revenues, $678,582.38; cash value of statute labor 

 tax, $321,771.50; cash in lieu of labor, $36,724; estimated expendi- 

 tures for 29 counties not reporting, $666,378.53; expenditures from 

 bond issues, $4,152,456.72. 



The total revenue devoted to roads and bridges in 1904 amounted 

 to $4,138,157.49. Thus it appears that in the 10-year period the 



