16 BULLETIN 389^ XT. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTUEE. 



within a district, shall be expended only within the district, and if a majority of 

 the resident taxpayers so petition may be paid in labor. 



The board of county commissioners levies a road poll tax of not to exceed $4 upon 

 each able-bodied male from 21 to 50 years of age within the county, including those 

 residing in incorporated cities, towns, and villages. Of such taxes collected within 

 any incorporated city, town, or village, 75 per cent shall be paid to such munici- 

 pality for the benefit of its road fund. 



County boards of commissioners may issue bonds for road purposes when authorized 

 by a two-thirds majority vote at an election called thereon. 



Authority is granted for the working of both State and county prisoners on the 

 public highways. 



ROAD MILEAGE. 



At the close of 1914 Idaho had a total of 24,396 miles of public roads, of which 

 679 miles, or 2.78 per cent, were surfaced. Of the surfaced mileage 42.5 miles were 

 macadam, 168 gravel, 449 sand-clay, 12 bituminous macadam, 4.5 concrete, and 3 miles 

 cinders. There were also reported 4,399 miles of graded and drained earth road. The 

 total of all public roads for the year 1909 amounted to 18,403, of which 510.5 miles, or 

 .77 per cent, were surfaced, showing an increase in surfaced mileage in the five- 

 year period of 168.5 miles. Detailed information regarding road mileage for 1914 is 

 presented by counties in Table 10. 



REVENUES APPLIED TO ROADS AND BRIDGES. 



The total revenue applied to roads and bridges in 1914 amounted to $1,371,468.59. 

 Of this amount $776,600.87 was derived from the regular county road and bridge 

 tax, $319,055.60 from special taxes and other sources, $226,000 from county and dis- 

 trict road and bridge bond funds, and $49,812.12 from State appropriations expended 

 under the direction of the State highway department for State-aid roads. Of the 

 latter amount $21,733.21 was for construction, $21,713.44 for engineering, and $6,365.47 

 for administration. The engineering expenses were incurred in laying out a system 

 of State highways on which future appropriations are to be applied. In 1904 the total 

 revenue applied to roads amounted to $311,588, showing an increase for the 10-year 

 period of $1,059,880.59, or 340 per cent. Detailed information showing the revenues 

 applied to roads.and bridges during 1914 is presented by counties in Table 33. 



ROAD AND BRIDGE BONDS. 



The total State, county, and district road and bridge bonds outstanding on Janu- 

 ary 1, 1915, amounted to $1,339,000, of which counties and districts issued $834,000 

 and the State $505,000. The State bonds were issued between 1905 and 1913, and 

 bear from 4 to 5 per cent interest. They are all sinking fund bonds with call pro- 

 visions and terms extending from 5 to 30 years. In 1914 there was expended from 

 local bond funds $226,000, there was voted $425,000, and there was sold $375,000. 

 The terms of the bonds sold during 1914 were from 10 to 20 years and the interest rate 

 varied from 5 to 6 per cent. No State road and bridge bonds were issued in 1914. 

 Detailed information regarding road and bridge bonds is shown by counties in 

 Table 55. 



ILLINOIS.i 



Illinois has a land area of 56,043 square miles, a total road mileage of 95,647, of 

 which 11,606.31 miles, or 12.02 per cent were surfaced at the close of 1914. 



The governor, by and with the ad\ice and consent of the senate, appoints the State 

 highway commission of three members, who serve six years each. One member 



1 In collecting the information for Illinois assistance was rendered by Wm. M. Man, State highway 

 engineer, and collaborator of the United States Department of Agriculture. 



