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 by 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 until 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 53 cents 
Wersquare yard <2 2 ose a ee ee Se oe ee ee $2, 244. 83 
Additional expenses: 
Hauling hot asphalt.......-- Roe a en Phe “iar ANE AM Nag ens $103. 60 
Hating sand). aos ho ras seals Be ae re a ee es 251. 50 
Traction-engine engineer, fireman, coal, etc.............-- 125.7 
Wreddane Same hos ooh x a OR eo eee ee ee eee 179. 80 
Heaimie asphalt 225% 2 oe ee ee ake ta ee eee 80. 00 
Incidentals (shovels, repairs, etc.).....---.--- axe Rae aes 10. 94 
EES Ne) 1a dt! teeyninn sphege ayy el RL Mees reins, <u ia on A ee Ue ye le a = 106230 
Hauling water for traction engine. .--2.-—--2-. 22.2 22..-2! 25. 00 
Wotale. hey oe be, aa Ba ee eA Se ee 882. 91 
Grand: total s2202 | Pi ed SS ee 3, 127. 74 
Average cost per milei(for they5miles) 6.15. ete 2 5022 eee $625. 54 
Average:cost per Square. ward 21922 ¥ Oe eS eee ie an Gee . 0766 
POPLAR SPRINGS AND MARION ROADS. 
84,257 square yards; for purchase of material and its application at 5 cents 
per-sqtiare yard 2. \fo22 Shee SoG Pe ee eae oan ree $4, 212. 85 
Additional expenses: 
Hauling hot asphalt...-2..:-...4 29 ee ee ee $252. 40 
Hauling sand 35 os oe eee ee 791. 62 
Traction-engine engineer, fireman, coal, etc.........-..----- 284. 45 
