64 BULLETIN 393^ U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGBICULTUEE. 



on the present basis, however, a $5,000 farm, assessed -at $3,000, 

 which is about the average, would pay for the improved roads from 

 $4 to $5 annually, according to the method which is adopted for 

 payment of the indebtedness. 



No aid was granted by the State toward the roads built under 

 the bond issue, but an apportiomnent of $2,000 for each of the years 

 1911, 1912, and 1913 and $3,271.13 for 1914, or a total of $9,271.13, 

 was granted by the State toward the cost of other roads whose con- 

 struction was directed by the State highway department under a plan 

 whereby the State and county paid, respectively, 50 per cent of the 

 cost. Beginning with 1916, State aid must be appHed to a trunk- 

 line system designated by the State legislature. The average cost 

 of the 9 miles of gravel road built with the aid of the State was 

 $1,997.85. 



HOW THE ROAD WORK WAS MANAGED. 



The roads to be improved were selected by the county board of 

 commissioners, which consists of the judge of probate, who is ex-officio 

 president, and four members. The four commissioners are elected 

 from the four districts of the county for a term of four years and 

 receive $4 per day for time actually employed, or an average of from 

 $600 to $800 per annum each. The cbnunissioners have charge of 

 the roads in their respective districts and employ overseers at $2 

 per day for time actually employed. These overseers have charge 

 of the statute labor. The probate judge is elected for a 6-year term 

 from the county at large and his compensation is based on the fee 

 system. There are no other administrative road officials. An en- 

 gineer was employed by the county board.in 1911 at a salary of $3,000 

 per annum. His successor received $2,500 per annum, and the 

 present engineer in charge of road work receives $150 per month 

 and necessary expenses. 



A superintendent of convict forces is employed at $95 per month, 

 a bridge superintendent at $100 per month, and a superintendent of 

 maintenance at $75 per month. These three officials report to the 

 respective commissioners according to the district in which the work 

 is conducted. Most of the construction under the bond issue was 

 by contract either on the basis of a fixed charge per hour for labor 

 and teams or on the unit-cost basis. 



Gravel roads aggregating 78.45 miles and sand-clay roads 23.30 

 miles, or a total of 101.75 miles, were constructed with the bond-issue 

 funds. The county is well supplied with clay gravel and with natural 

 sand-clay. Where the wagon haul was excessive the materials were 

 shipped by rail from the county gravel pit to the siding nearest the 

 proposed improvement. This pit-is located on a raiboad siding and 

 the material is excavated by steam shovel. The pit has a 28-foot 



