ROAD MILEAGE, CENTRAL AND WESTERN STATES. 39 
with the State highway commission a system of prospective county highways to 
include the main traveled roads of the county, together with those leading to the 
county seat and to such other towns, settlements, and railroad stations as may be 
deemed advisable. Each such board is directed to employ a surveyor to prepare, in 
accordance with instructions of the State highway commission, a map showing the 
system of prospective county highways which must meet at the county lines so as to 
make continuous and direct lines of travel between the counties. 
A State tax of 1 mill is levied each year and the proceeds are paid into the State 
treasury to the credit of the State road fund. Also, one-half of the net proceeds from 
licensing and registering motor vehicles is applied to the State road fund. In addition 
a State tax of one-fourth mill is authorized to be levied and the proceeds used in 
carrying out the provisions of the acts providing for constructing the highway known 
as the "El Camino Real." 
The board of county commissioners of each county is authorized to levy a general 
road tax of not to exceed 3 mills on each dollar of assessed valuation. 
At the general election in 1912, a State bond issue of §500,000 was authorized, to be 
sold as needed by the State highway commission for the construction of the State 
system of highways. 
All able-bodied males between 21 and 60 years of age are required to pay an annual 
road tax of $3, or in lieu thereof to work three days on the roads. 
On petition of 100 legal voters and taxpayers, the board of county commissioners 
may levy a special tax of not to exceed 1^ mills for the purpose of creating a county 
road fund. Also, one-half of the net proceeds from licensing and registering motor 
vehicles is apportioned to the several counties in proportion to the amounts collected 
in each, and applied to the county road fund. 
On petition for the building of a public bridge signed by taxpayers to the number 
of 400 in class A counties, 200 in class B counties, and 100 in class C counties, the 
county board of commissioners may levy to pay therefor taxes limited in amounts, 
according to the classification of the several counties, as follows: $25,000 in class A 
counties, $10,000 in class B counties, and $3,500 in class C counties. 
Bonds for road and bridge purposes may be issued by the board of county commis- 
sioners of any county in an amount not to exceed 4 per cent of the assessed value of 
all property therein, if authorized by a majority vote at an election thereon. 
ROAD MILEAGE. 
At the close of 1914 New Mexico had, according to the reports received, 11,873 
miles of public road, of which 261.5 miles, or 2.2 per cent, were surfaced. Of the 
surfaced roads 184 miles were gravel, 72.5 miles sand-clay, and 5 miles bituminous 
macadam. There also was reported 1,906.5 miles of graded and drained earth road. 
At the close of 1909 New Mexico had 16,920 miles of public road, of which 104 miles, 
or 0.61 per cent, were surfaced, an increase of 157.5 miles of surfaced roads. Detailed 
information as to road mileage in each county at the close of 1914 is presented in 
Table 21. 
REVENUES APPLIED TO ROADS AND BRIDGES. 
In 1914 there was applied to roads and bridges a total of $556,398.82, of which 
$357,955.15 was derived from the general State and county road and bridge tax; 
$16,871.69 from the forest reserve fund; $63,320.46 from special bridge levies; $42,280.64 
from a $3 personal tax; $29,970.88 from county levies for special roads; $30,000 from 
bond issue funds in Dona Ana County; and $16,000 from automobile licenses, expended 
by the State. The forest reserve fund is applied to roads and schools, but it was 
impossible to ascertain how much of the amount given above was expended for schools. 
The total revenue applied to roads and bridges in 1904 amounted to $165,651.56, an 
increase in the 10-year period of $390,747.26, or 235.88 per cent. Information as to 
revenue applied to roads during 1914 is presented by counties in Table 44. 
