32 



BULLETIN 393, U. S. DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 



easterly direction. The White Oak Road, about 15 miles of which 

 has been improved, opens up the territory lying between the Cox 

 Road and the Boydton Plank Road. This road is to be finished 

 to the county line on the Nottoway River. 



HOW THE ROADS ARE MAINTAINED. 



The roads have not been systematically maintained, and while 

 many sections are in excellent condition, other sections showed signs 

 of wear and disintegration at the time of the 1915 inspection. 



The condition of some of the roads before and after improvement 

 is shown by the accompanying photographs. (Pis. VII and IX.) 

 When the first inspection was made, during the latter part of March, 

 1910, the roads were practically impassable. The first year after 

 construction the roads were more or less soft, but after the surplus 

 clay had been leached out they became fairly hard and firm, even in 

 wet weather. 



The county road fund amounted to about $12,000 in 1915, of which 

 one-half is devoted to permanent work and one-half to maintenance. 

 Six thousand dollars spread out over the whole mileage of the county 

 amounts to only about $11 per mile for maintenance, which is entirely 

 inadequate. This work is carried on under the general direction of 

 the county road board and under the immediate direction of the 

 county superintendent of roads. The maintenance work is done by 

 three small gangs of 5 or 6 men each, and a total of 6 mules for the 

 three gangs. These gangs are principally engaged in cleaning out 

 ditches, dragging, and patch work. 



EFFECT OP- ROAD IMPROVEMENT ON LAND VALUES. 



The following table shows the assessed valuation of real and per- 

 sonal property and public service corporations for 1905, 1910, and 

 1915, exclusive of Petersburg, which is not assessed for improve- 

 ments outside of its corporate limits. Property is assessed at about 

 one-third of its cash value. According to law it should be assessed 

 at its ''fair market value." 



Table 11. — Detail of assessed valuation 1905, 1910, and 1915. 



Year. 



Real 

 estate. 



Personal 

 property. 



^^lineral 

 lands. 



Public 

 service 

 corpora- 

 tions. 



Total. 



1905 



$1,652,881 

 2,071,249 

 2,855,343 



$484,829 



757, 955 



11,063,820 





$1,091,523 

 1,560,220 

 2,065,977 



$3,229,233 



1910 



$39, 160 



4,428,584 



1915 



5, 985, 140 









I Including tangible and intangible personal property and money as assessed under new tax law. 



