ECONOMIC SURVEYS OF COUNTY HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT. 15 
_ shows that wnile the people are paying taxes at a higher rate, they 
are obtaining far more in the form of revenue for public purposes 
than the increase in the tax rate ordinarily would have yielded. As 
an index to the prosperity of the county since the completion of the 
road system, it might be pointed out that the taxable valuation in 
1905 was $1,738,727; in 1910, $2,120,753; and in 1915, $3,478,373. 
_ The increase in the five-year period from 1905 to 1910, the year road 
improvement was begun, was only 21.9 per cent, the increase in the 
corresponding period from 1910 to 1915 was 63.9 per cent. Probably 
a better conception of this increase can be gained through the state- 
ment that the aggregate of the bond issues for the four districts, com- 
prising the sum of $173,000, is less than one-eighth the increase in 
valuation with a considerable portion of these bond issues yet to be 
expended. 
HOW THE WORK WAS MANAGED. 
The funds derived from the bond issues in Chancellor and Court- 
land districts were expended under the direction of the special board 
of public roads of Spotsylvania County, and a resident engineer, at 
$1,200 per annum, who was appointed by the State highway com- 
missioner for the period of construction only. The board consisted 
of four members appointed by the judge of the circuit court for a 
term of three years. Hach member was paid $100 a year, except the 
secretary-treasurer, who was paid $125. Orders for expenditures 
originated with the engineer in charge and were approved by the 
board. A similar board has charge of the work in Livingston and 
Berkley districts. 
The roads to be improved were designated by the judge of the 
circuit court in the order of election. When the improvement is 
completed and accepted by the State highway department and 
county road board, the roads are turned over for maintenance to the 
county board of supervisors, composed of one supervisor from each 
magisterial district, elected for a term of 4 years, and receiving a 
compensation of $4 per day for time actually employed. 
Under the Virginia law all roads built by means of bond issues are 
under the direction of the State highway department as to surveys, 
plans; specifications, and supervision of construction. The State 
also grants aid in the form of cash or convict labor to the extent of 
one-half the cost of the roads, but as the amount of cash annually 
available from the State is small, it will probably require a number 
of years to reimburse this county to the extent of one-half the total 
outlay. The State money aid was not expended on the bond-issue 
roads, but on other roads, and is only mentioned to make clear the 
relation between the bond-issue funds and the State-aid allotments. 
From 1909 to 1915 a total of $8,212.01 in money aid and automobile 
licenses has been received by the county. 
