LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, OFFICE OF ROAD INQUIRY, Washington, D. C., December 4, 1893. SIR: In accordance with your letter of instructions dated October 3, 1893, I have the honor to transmit abstracts of the most important of the various recent State laws on the subject of roads, followed by copies of the essential portions of these laws, in full, for reference. I have confined this compilation to laws of recent date, since most of the old laws are confessedly ineffective, and all the practical work of modern road improvement has been and must be done under new statutes. Very respectfully, ROY STONE, Special Agent and Engineer in Charge of Road Inquiry. Hon. J. STERLING MORTON, Secretary of Agriculture. INTRODUCTORY NOTE. The older laws and the systems of road-making established by them are interesting as failures, and it will be profitable to discuss them, but for the present a knowledge of the new laws and their results is especially desired by those who are concerned in the legislation for road improvement, which will occupy many of the legislatures during the coming winter. Fourteen States have already passed new road laws, more or less radical in their character, and nearly all the others are moving in the same direction. I have appended to the present compilations some recommendations made by road commissions and other public bodies but not yet acted upon. The laws given are nearly all of the present year, and they have not fairly gone into use, so that no record of results is available. In New Jersey, however, the new laws date from 1888 to 1892, and have proved so satisfactory in practice that no effort to amend them was made in 1893. The letter of instructions defining the object and scope of the present road inquiry, and in accordance with which the accompanying compilation of State road laws was undertaken, is as follows: LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS. U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, Washington, D. C., October 3, 1893. SIR: You have been this day appointed to supervise and carry out the investigation pursuant to the statute approved March 3, 1893, which has four branches: (1) To make inquiries in regard to the systems of road management throughout the United States. (2) To make investigations in regard to the best method of road-making. (3) To prepare didactic publications on this subject, suitable for distribution. (4) To assist the agricultural colleges and experiment stations in disseminating information on this subject. It will not be profitable to enter upon all of these points at first. The work under the appropriation will need to be of gradual growth, conducted at all times economically. Therefore, it is not expected that there will be any considerable force of clerical help, and, aside from your salary, no considerable expenditure for the present. It is understood that you have at your command the data for a compilation of the laws of several of the States, upon which their road systems are based. It should be your first duty, therefore, to make such collection complete, and prepare a bulletin on that subject. Incidentally, while preparing this bulletin, you should charge yourself with collecting data relating to the different methods of road-making, which, in the first instance, should be generic in their character; including— (1) The best method of constructing a common highway, without gravel or stone. (2) Gravel highways. (3) Macadam and other stone roads. (4) Data upon which to base suggestions for the transportation of material within reasonable access, for the proper surfacing of the roadbed. These data should form the foundation for the second bulletin, or second series of bulletins. There are certain restrictions I wish specifically to bring to your attention. It must be borne in mind that the actual expense in the construction of these highways is to be borne by the localities and States in which they lie. Moreover, it is not the province of this Department to seek to control or influence said action, except in so far as advice and wise suggestions shall contribute toward it. This Department is to form no part of any plan, scheme, or organization, or to be a party to it in any way, which has for its object the concerted effort to secure and furnish labor to the unemployed persons or to convicts. These are matters to be carried on by States, localities, or charities. The Department is to furnish information, not to direct and formulate any system of organization, however efficient or desirable it may be. Any such effort on its part would soon make it subject to hostile criticism. You will publish this letter in the preface to your first bulletin. Yours truly, Mr. ROY STONE, J. STERLING Morton, Secretary. Special Agent and Civil Engineer in charge Good Roads Investigation. |