56 BULLETIN 393, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
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. County roads are built 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 county 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 four. 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, melusive, 
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 
a 
