56 BULLETIN 393^ U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUKE. 



was $11,741,490 and in 1915, $12,633,266, an increase of 7.6 per cent 

 from 1910 to 1915, the period covered by the improvement of the 

 roads. All property in the county is assessed at about 90 per cent 

 of its real value. The bond issue represents about 3.8 per cent of 

 the assessed value. 



RECEIPTS FROM TAXATION FOR ROADS. 



In 1910 the various towns raised $76,489.98 for roads. In 1915 

 there was raised by taxation $181,988.15, of which $88,934.83 was 

 for town highways, $25,625 for State and county highways, $4,178.32 

 for interest on State and county highway bonds, $31,000 for main- 

 tenance of county roads, $22,250 for interest on county road bonds, 

 and $10,000 for retiring county road bonds. 



MANAGEMENT, PERSONNEL, AND COMPENSATION. 



All State and county highways are built by contract let by the 

 State highway department, which supervises the construction of such 

 highways. Comity roads are buUt by day labor under the supervi- 

 sion of the county superintendent and the county highway commis- 

 sion, while the county superintendent and the respective town 

 superintendents supervise the construction of town roads. 



The State highways are designated by act of the legislature, but 

 the choice between two or more routes is made by the State highway 

 department. The board of supervisors designates county highways 

 and county roads; and the town superintendents and town boards 

 designate town roads for improvement. 



The method of construction to be followed on State and county 

 highways is determined by the State highway department, with the 

 approval of the county superintendent. The improvements on town 

 highways are designated by the county superintendent of highways. 



The body in charge of the bond-built comity roads is designated 

 as the Franklin County Road Commission and consists of a presi- 

 dent, secretary, and county superintendent of town roads, and 

 two other members. Three members of this commission are ap- 

 pointed by the board of supervisors and are members of that board. 

 The county superintendent occupies a position on the commission 

 by virtue of his office. The fifth member of the commission is ap- 

 pointed by the other f om'. This commission acts for the county board 

 of supervisors. The compensation of members of the commission 

 is $4 per day for time actually employed, and expenses. The total 

 salary and expenses of the commission for 1911 to 1913, inclusive, 

 amounted to $5,596, exclusive of the salary of the county superin- 

 tendent, which amounts to $2,000 per annum. An auditor is em- 

 ployed at $4 per day, a bookkeeper at $4 per day, and a stenographer 



