estimate of 2,200,000 miles of road in the United States, or an average of about three-fourths of a mile per square mile of area, the French road system is at least two and one-third times as large proportionately, and that the English system is at least three and one-third times as large proportionately. If we include the unimportant neighborhood roads in France. the comparison would then be in the same proportion as that of England. as this additional mileage would make a total of about 519,000 miles or 24 miles per square mile of area in France. For purpose of comparison of road mileage, it may be stated that a section of the older portion of the United States, comprising Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, have a total area of 202,716 square miles, or a little less than that of France, which has an area of 207,054 square miles. In this portion of the United States there was, in 1910, a population of 30,635,694, or 151 persons per square mile. France has a total population of 39,252,000, or 189 persons per square mile. The section of the United States above mentioned has 357,395 miles of road, or 1.76 miles of road per square mile of area, while France has 363,772 miles of road, or 1.75 miles of road per square mile of area. Computation shows that in the section of the United States under consideration there are 85.7 persons per mile of road, while in France the population is 107.9 per mile of road. As the mileage of officially classified roads in France in proportion to area is approximately the same as for the territory comprised in the States named, and as the density of population in France is somewhat greater, it is reasonable to suppose that the northeastern section of the United States has nearly reached its maximum road mileage. If the other portions of the United States ultimately reach this density of population, we may look forward to an increase in road mileage which, based upon this comparison, would make the total length of roads for the United States aggregate nearly 5,000,000 miles; but owing to the large area of mountainous and semiarid lands included in our total area, it is extremely improbable that the country will ever need this great mileage of roads. The comparison, however, indicates the probability of a large increase in mileage of roads incident to the development of new territory and the more general practice of intensive farming through the subdivision of large tracts of land. Such new construction will involve large outlay of public funds, the wise expenditure of which will require careful legislation and efficient supervision. ROAD SYSTEMS OF STATES. For the purpose of securing information relative to the road systems of the several States, and also the views of the governors upon the question of Federal aid in the construction of post roads, I addressed the following letter to each of the governors: UNITED STATES SENATE, COMMITTEE ON POST OFFICES AND POST ROADS, MY DEAR GOVERNOR: Under the provisions of an item in the Post Office appropriation bill of the recent session of Congress, the Senate and House of Representatives have appointed a joint committee to make inquiry into the subject of Federal aid in the construction of post roads. This committee has not yet organized and probably will not organize for several weeks, but, as a member of said joint committee and as chairman of the Senate Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads and under authority of Senate resolution No. 56, I feel justified in writing to you, personally, this letter being actuated by a desire to secure immediately the best available information on the subject of good roads in order to have same ready for the joint committee when it meets for organization and prior to the holding of hearings. Will you kindly furnish me with the names and addresses of residents of your State who are especially trained or who have special experience in road construction? Also kindly send me the names and addresses of such residents of your State as can, in your opinion, furnish the committee with the most useful information upon the practical problems involved in road improvement and construction. I would also appreciate information as to the following facts relative to your State: (1) Do you have a system of cooperation between the State and counties or communities in road construction? If so, what has been the plan? (2) What statutes have you that are particularly designed to secure permanent highway construction? (3) What officers of your State are charged with the custody of public-road funds? (4) What officers in your State have control over the improvement and construction of roads? (5) On the order of what officer are road funds expended? (6) Do the laws of your State authorize the issuance of bonds or the incurring of other indebtedness for permanent highway improvements? (7) Are the road laws of your State such as to permit of your participating in a plan for road construction in cooperation with the Government? (8) Has there been completed or is there under construction a system of State highways in your State, and, if so, of what character, what length, and between what points? (9) To what extent does your State participate in highway construction? (10) If you are an advocate of Federal participation in highway construction, please outline briefly your idea of the plan on which such participation should be based. I will thank you for any additional suggestions or official reports that may be helpful to the committee and, since we hope to make an early report to Congress, I will thank you for an early reply. Yours, very truly, JONATHAN BOURNE, Jr., Chairman Senate Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads. The governors of most of the States responded promptly to this request for information, but some of them have not done so, and so far as practicable the data have been obtained from other sources for those States. The information obtained is set forth in the following pages. This information will also be presented in a summary for purposes of ready comparison in a pamphlet of good roads charts soon to be printed. ALABAMA. STATE OF ALABAMA, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, Hon. JONATHAN BOURNE, Jr., Montgomery, September 14, 1912. Washington, D. C. MY DEAR SENATOR: In response to your letter of the 28th ultimo I have instructed the State highway commission to advise you fully in answer to the questions asked. The State of Alabama by its constitution is forbidden from engaging in any work of internal improvements, but by amendment adopted in 1907 the legislature is authorized to expend the proceeds derived from the hire of convicts for the construction and maintenance of public roads. The highways of Alabama are all constructed by the counties. The State has contributed $2,000 to each county upon condition that they will contribute a like amount for the purpose of constructing a model highway in each county. I am an advocate of Federal participation in highway construction, but I believe that it would be impracticable for the General Government to undertake to improve all of our post roads. The only plan feasible, it seems to me at present, is to make a general appropriation, divided among the States on some just and equitable basis. Yours, very truly, EMMET O'NEAL, Governor. STATE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT OF ALABAMA, Senator JONATHAN BOURNE, Jr., United States Senate, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR SIR: Gov. O'Neal has referred your letter of August 28 to me. Answering your questions in the order in which they are asked: No. 1. Yes. (See No. 8.) No. 2. State highway law covers this. No. 3. In counties county commissioners are charged with the custody of public-road fund. The State funds are paid to the counties by orders issued by the State highway commission on the State auditor. No. 4. County commissioners in counties, State highway commissioners for State. No. 5. Orders are issued for payment of funds by county engineer when the county has such official; if not, by the county commissioners. For the State by State highway commissioners, who are authorized to pay counties, and all itemized accounts must be sent to the State highway engineer for approval. This latter, of course, is only necessary when counties are using jointly State and county money. No. 6. Counties may issue bonds for the construction of roads to as much as 3 per cent of their tax valuation; that is, their total indebtedness must not exceed 3 per cent of their tax valuation. The State can not issue bonds for road improvement. No. 7. Yes; we are entitled to all of the revenue derived from the leasing of convicts. We can cooperate with the Government without any additional legislation. No. 8. The State gives to each county $2,000 a year, provided the county will put up a like amount and build a section of road under the direction of the highway department. The engineer is instructed to recommend to the next legislature a system of State trunk roads to be constructed and maintained jointly by the State and county. The character of our roads are macadam, gravel, chert, and sand clay. No. 9. Answered under question No. 8. No. 10. I believe the Government should aid in the construction of such roads that will in the course of a few years become national trunk roads. I think the best method would be to pay to the State one-third of the cost of construction of a road when such road after construction meets the approval of a representative of the Government, who should, of course, be a skilled and experienced highway engineer. In other words, should the State construct a road in conjunction with the counties costing $100,000, if such road joins with an important road of another State and the road meets the requirements of the Government, one-third of the cost of this road should be paid to the State. I am sending you copy of our bulletins Nos. 2 and 3, which I trust will be of aid to your committee. I wish to state, in connection with this, that our commissioners are desirous of aiding you in any way they possibly can and, if necessary, I am sure they will be willing to have me appear in person before your committee. Very respectfully, yours, W. S. KELLER, OFFICE OF STATE ENGINEER, Senator JONATHAN BOURNE, Jr., DEAR SIR: Your favor of August 28 to Gov. George W. P. Hunt relative to State roads in Arizona has been referred to me for reply. With few exceptions no roads in Arizona had been properly graded or constructed before the first State road law was passed in 1909. During its operation of three years approximately $600,000 was expended on State roads and bridges. In answer to your inquiries I beg to say: (1) The present Arizona State road law provides for an annual appropriation of $250,000, 25 per cent of which is expended under the direction of the State board of control (the governor, State auditor, and citizen member) and the State engineer on State roads as selected by them, and 75 per cent is expended under the direction of the county boards of supervisors in the counties where raised. and the State engineer upon State roads as selected by them. The fund raised from an automobile tax, which will approximate $10,000 annually, is expended under the direction of the State officers who have direction of the 25 per cent portion of the appropriation. (2) As stated. (3) As stated. (4) As stated, over State roads. The county boards of supervisors and county road superintendents on county roads. (5) As stated. (6) Yes. (7) Yes. (8) Under construction. A north-and-south and an east-andeast highway, as designated by the late administration. Another east-and-west State highway will traverse the northern end of the State. (9) As stated. (10) I favor Federal participation on highway construction. As regards the plan for such participation, I have not given this feature sufficient thought to offer advice in the matter. Yours, very truly, LAMAR COBB, State Engineer. ARKANSAS. Issuance of bonds for road-building purposes is prohibited by the constitution. Upon a majority vote of the qualified electors, county courts are authorized to levy a tax of 3 mills for road purposes. Public roads running centrally through the county must be first improved. Supervision and control is vested in the county court. Road-improvement districts may be created and incur liabilities not exceeding 30 per cent of the total assessed value of all property in the district. No local assessment shall in any one year exceed 25 per cent of the assessed benefits accruing to the property. CALIFORNIA. DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING, Sacramento, Cal., September 19, 1912. Replying to inquiries made by Hon. Jonathan Bourne, jr., chairman Senate Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads: (1) Do you have a system of cooperation between the State and counties or communities? If so, what has been the plan? No. The only cooperation between the State and counties in road construction is a voluntary agreement on the part of the counties to furnish free right of way and to construct all bridges required for the construction of a State highway under the $18,000,000 highway bond act. The act does not require such cooperation, but the highway commission, realizing that the $18,000,000 will not be sufficient to provide all of the roads contemplated by the act, has made it a consideration for the location of a State highway that the county shall assist as above stated. In every county so far approached the arrangement has been accepted. (2) What statutes have you that are particularly designed to secure permanent highway construction? (a) Chapter 349, Statutes 1907, provides for the issuance of bonds by counties for road construction and the creation of county highway commissions to direct the work. Under this law Sacramento County has expended $600,000; San Joaquin, $1,200,000; Los Angeles, $3,000,000, San Diego, $1,250,000. Other counties have voted |