EOAD MILEAGE, CENTRAL AND WESTERN STATES. 55 



the State penitentiary, under the State commission on prison labor. It was made 

 the duty of the commission 'to use all such convicts as it might deem practicable for 

 that purpose. The work was to be done under the supervision of competent persons 

 selected by the commission. The roads constituting the State system of public high- 

 ways were to be located and surveyed under the direction of the State engineer, 

 appointed by the governor. It also was made the duty of the State engineer to cause 

 plans and specifications for their construction, repair and maintenance to be pre- 

 pared, to select the materials of which such roads should be constructed, and to fur- 

 nish a deputy engineer, whose salary and legitimate expenses should be paid by the 

 respective counties in which work might be done. The State engi.neer certifies to the 

 State commission on prison labor each month the expense rendered and incurred in 

 respect to said highways during the preceding month in each county through which the 

 same may pass, and the boards of county commissioners pay to the State engineer the 

 amount due for the work done in their respective counties out of the road fund or 

 general fund of the county. Boards of county commissioners secure the right of way 

 for such highways and construct necessary bridges, in accordance with the plans of the 

 State engineer; provided that, as far as practicable, bridges across small streams shall 

 be constructed by the use of convict labor. 



The board of county commissioners of each county is vested with power and juris- 

 diction over the laying out, alteration or discontinuance of public highways therein. 

 The boards also have jurisdiction over the granting of Licenses for keeping ferries, 

 toll bridges, and toll gates. The boards divide their respective counties into road 

 districts and when the county is so divided a district road supervisor is elected for 

 each district. If the county be not divided into road districts a county road supervisor 

 is elected. 



Bridges between counties may be constructed by the counties interested, each 

 county to pay one-half, or other pro rata share, of the cost. If such cost will burden 

 the road and bridge fund unreasonably, or if it will exceed $5,000, the board of county 

 commissioners may cause a portion to be paid out of the road and bridge fund of the 

 county and may levy a special tax, not exceeding 2 mills on each dollar of taxable 

 property in the county, to raise the balance. 



An inheritance tax is provided, the proceeds of which in each county are to be 

 expended for the permanent improvement of the county roads outside the limits of 

 incorporated cities and villages. The county boards are authorized to levy a tax of 

 not to exceed 3 mills on each dollar of taxable property in the county, the proceeds 

 of which constitute a general county road fund. At the time of making the annual 

 levies for county piu-poses the county board may levy upon each able-bodied man 

 between 21 and 50 years of age, not exempt by law, a special poll or road tax of $2, 

 which may be paid in cash or by one day's labor on the roads. If the funds thus 

 derived be insufficient for the work in any road district, the county board may appro- 

 priate necessary additional fimds from the general road fund. The proceeds of the 

 special poll or road tax, collected from persons residing within incorporated cities or 

 towns of the State, are paid into the treasxtry of such cities or towns. 



The net proceeds from the registration and licensing of motor vehicles is paid to the 

 coimty from which collected, to be expended for the temporary improvement of the 

 county roads outside of the limits of incorporated towns or cities. 



The county boards of commissioners are authorized to work prisoners confined in 

 any county jail upon the public highways of the county. 



ROAD MILEAGE. 



At the close of 1914 Wyoming had, according to reports received, a total of 14,381 

 miles of public road, of which 52.5 miles, or 0.36 per cent, were surfaced with gravel. 

 There were also reported 1,672 miles of graded and drained earth roads. In the 

 Yellowstone Park, which is located in the northwest corner of the State, there are 416 



