ECONOMIC SURVEYS OF COUNTY HIGHWAY IMPEOVEMENT. 15 



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shows that wiiile the people ^re paying taxes at a higher rate, they 

 are obtaining far more in the form of revenue for pubhc purposes 

 than the increase in the tax rate ordinarily would have yielded. As 

 an index to the prosperity of the county since the completion of the 

 road system, it might be pointed out that the taxable valuation in 

 1905 was $1,738,727; in 1910, $2,120,753; and m 1915, $3,478,373. 

 The increase in the five-year period from 1905 to 1910, the year road 

 improvement was begun, was only 21.9 per cent, the increase in the 

 corresponding period from 1910 to 1915 was 63.9 per cent. Probably 

 a better conception of this increase can be gained through the state- 

 ment that the aggregate of the bond issues for the four districts, com- 

 prising the sum of $173,000, is less than one-eighth the increase in 

 valuation with a considerable portion of these bond issues yet to be 

 expended. 



HOW THE WORK WAS MANAGED. 



The funds derived from the bond issues in Chancellor and Court- 

 land districts were expended under the direction of the special board 

 of pubhc roads of Spotsylvania County, and a resident engineer, at 

 $1,200 per annum, who was appointed by the State highway com- 

 missioner for the period of construction only. The board consisted 

 of four members appointed by the judge of the circuit court for a 

 term of three years. Each member was paid $100 a year, except the 

 secretary-treasurer, who was paid $125. Orders for expenditures 

 originated with the engineer in charge and were approved by the 

 board. A similar board has charge of the work in Livingston and 

 Berkley districts. 



The roads to be improved were designated by the judge of the 

 circuit court in the order of election. When the improvement is 

 completed and accepted by the State highway department and 

 county road board, the roads are turned over for maintenance to the 

 county board of supervisors, composed of one supervisor from each 

 magisterial district, elected for a term of 4 years, and receiving a 

 compensation of $4 per day for time actually employed. 



Under the Virginia law all roads built by means of bond issues are 

 under the direction of the State highway department as to surveys, 

 plans, specifications, and supervision of construction. The State 

 also grants aid in the form of cash or convict labor to the extent of 

 one-half the cost of the roads, but as the amount of cash annually 

 available from the State is small, it will probably require a number 

 of years to reimbiu-se this county to the extent of one-half the total 

 outlay. The State money aid was not expended on the bond-issue 

 roads, but on other roads, and is only mentioned to make clear the 

 relation between the bond-issue funds and the State-aid allotments. 

 From 1909 to 1915 a total of $8,212.01 in money aid and automobile 

 licenses has been received by the county. 



