74 • BULLETIN 393, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

 HOW THE ROADS ARE MAINTAINED. 



An excellent provision in the general law of the State requires that 

 a special tax of not less than 1 mill shall be levied for the maintenance 

 of all roads constructed bj means of bond issues. This fund is kept 

 separate from all other funds and can be used only for maintenance. 

 The result of this, provision is that instead of deteriorating the roads 

 have actually improved from year to year, and were in excellent con- 

 dition at the time of our inspection in November, 1915. About a 

 year after the gravel-macadam roads had been built, they were sur- 

 face-treated with bituminous material, one-half to three-fourths 

 gallon per square yard, and sand or slag screenings, at a total cost of 

 about 7.3 cents per square yard. The roads are not considered fin- 

 ished untn they have received this surface treatment. The width 

 treated varies from 12 to 14 feet. All macadam roads in the county 

 are now surface-treated, except 7 miles on the Russell Road and 

 2 or 3 miles on the Marion and Eighth Street Roads, which will be 

 treated in the spring of 1916. The machinery, which was furnished 

 by the contractor, consisted of rotary sweepers, compressed-air ma- 

 chine and tank, pressure distributers, and tank wagons for hauling 

 heated material. Taking two of the principal roads, the following 

 data show the cost of this work and afford a basis for estimating the 

 cost for the whole county: 



ASYLUM ROAD. 



40,815 square yards; for purchase of material and its application at 5^ cents 

 per square yard $2, 244. 83 



Additional expenses : 



Hauling hot asphalt §103. 60 



Hauling sand 251. 50 



Traction-engine engineer, fireman, coal, etc '. 125. 77 



Spreading sand 179. 80 



Heating asphalt 80. 00 



Incidentals (shovels, repairs, etc. ) 10. 94 



Patching 106. 30 



Hauling water for traction engine 25. 00 



Total 882. 91 



Grand total 3, 127. 74 



Average cost per mile (for the 5 miles) §625. 54 



Average cost per square yard . 0766 



POPLAR SPRINGS AND MARION ROADS. 



84,257 square yards; for purchase of material and its application at 5 cents 

 per square yard $4, 212. 85 



Additional expenses : 



Hauling hot asphalt $252. 40 



Hauling sand 791. 62 



Traction-engine engineer, fireman, coal, etc 284. 45 



