EOAD MILEAGE, CENTEAL AND WESTERN STATES. 19 



The constitution limits the amount of indebtedness which may be incurred or 

 outstanding at any one time by any county, township, or other municipal corpo- 

 ration, to not more than 5 per cent of the value of the taxable property therein. 



Authorization is given for the working of State convicts in the preparation of road 

 materials and on the public highways. . 



ROAD MILEAGE. 



At the close of 1914 Illinois had 95,647 miles of public road, of which 11,606.31 

 miles, or 12.02 per cent, were surfaced. Of the surfaced roads, 1,675.11 miles were 

 macadam, 7,052.30 miles gravel, 2,467.95 miles sand-clay, 148.80 miles concrete, 

 121.53 miles bituminous macadam, 82.92 miles brick, and 57.7 noiles siu-faced with 

 other material. There were also reported 41,143.31 miles of graded and drained 

 earth road. At the close of 1909 Illinois reported 94,141 miles of public road, of which 

 8,914 miles, or 9.47 per cent, were surfaced, thus indicating an increase in surfaced 

 road mileage in the 5-year period of 2,692.31 miles. Detailed information in regard 

 to road mileage in 1914 is presented in Table 11. 



REVENUES APPLIED TO ROADS AND BRIDGES. 



The total revenue applied to roads and bridges in 1914 amounted to $8,734,712.77, 

 of which $7,451,353.18 was received from general county and township taxation; 

 1968,217.18 from State aid, poll tax, special hard - road tax, and other sources; 

 $208,855.41 from bond-issue funds expended by local authorities, and $106,287 

 expended from State appropriation and automobile revenues for administration, 

 engineering, and miscellaneous equipment by the State highway department. Of 

 the latter sum, $51,735 was expended for administration and engineering and $54,552 

 for miscellaneous equipment. The total revenue applied to roads and bridges in 

 1904 amounted to $4,210,950.23, showing an increase in revenue applied to roads 

 and bridges for the 10-year period of $4,523,762.54, or 107.42 per cent. Detailed 

 information showing the receipts from taxation is presented by counties in Table 34. 



ROAD AND BRIDGE BONDS. 



According to reports received, the total bonds outstanding on January 1, 1915, 

 amounted to $798,761.55; these were issued principally by townships. In 1914 

 there were voted $3,656,500 road and bridge bonds, which included $2,000,000 

 for Cook County and $1,500,000 for Vermilion County, which latter were not sold 

 on account of a suit against the county. In 1914 there were sold $199,350 road and 

 bridge bonds and $161,914.34 were retired. Bond-issue funds expended in 1914 

 amounted to $208,855.41. Detailed information in regard to bond issues is presented 

 by counties and townships in Table 56. 



INDIANA.1 



Indiana has a land area of 36,045 square miles, a total road mileage of 73,347, of 

 which 30,962.4 miles, or 42.2 per cent, were sm'faced at the close of 1914. 



In every county niaintaining free gravel or macadam roads the board of county 

 commissioners appoints a county highway superintendent who has general super- 

 vision of the maintenance and repair of all highways, bridges, or culverts of the county 

 maintained or repaired from the gravel road repair fund of the county. His term 

 of office is two years but he may be removed by the board of county commissioners. 

 In counties having less than 200 miles of free gravel or macadam roads the county 

 surveyor may act as county highway superintendent. 



The board of county commissioners of each county has power to lay out, construct, 

 or improve any public highway or part thereof within such county upon the presen- 



1 In collecting the information for Indiana assistance was rendered by Edward Barrett, State geologist, 

 and collaborator of the United States Department of Agriculture. 



