U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. OFFICE OF ROAD INQUIRY. BULLETIN No. 7. INFORMATION REGARDING ROADS AND ROAD-MAKING MATERIALS IN CERTAIN EASTERN AND SOUTHERN STATES. (FURNISHED BY OFFICIALS OF THE VARIOUS RAILWAY COMPANIES.) PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE, WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, OFFICE OF ROAD INQUIRY, Washington, D. C., April 16, 1894. SIR: Communications from officials of various railway companies in some of the Eastern and Southern States have been received by this office. They were written in response to a circular letter of the Department making inquiries regarding road management and road-making. The publication of these letters as Bulletin No. 7 of this office is respectfully recommended. Hon. J. STERLING MORTON, ROY STONE, Special Agent and Engineer in Charge. Secretary. New York Central and Hudson River Railroad Company. Mount Jewett, Kinzua and Riterville Railroad Company. New York, Philadelphia and Norfolk Railroad Company Central Pennsylvania and Western Railroad Company. The Pennsylvania Railroad Company.... INFORMATION REGARDING ROADS AND ROAD-MAKING MATERIALS IN CERTAIN EASTERN AND SOUTHERN STATES. The following circular, to which the communications which come after are replies, was issued by this Department in October, 1893: U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, Washington, D. C., October 16, 1893. SIR: The Department of Agriculture has been authorized by Congress to make inquiry into the systems of road management throughout the United States and the best methods of road-making, and to collect and distribute information regarding the same. The interest uniformly shown by railway managers in the improvement of highways warrants the Department, which has been charged with this inquiry, in asking their assistance. The undersigned, therefore, respectfully requests: (1) Such information as can doubtless be gained through your engineering department regarding the supply of good road materials along or near your lines-their location, character, accessibility, and the cost of preparation and loading on cars; (2) your schedule rates for transportation of the same; (3) a statement of any reduced rates or free transportation that may have been granted or offered in special cases to encourage road-building; (4) any information, recommendations, or suggestions from yourself or any of your staff that may promote the success of this inquiry or the general interest of road improvements. Very respectfully, yours, EDWIN WILLITS, BRIDGTON AND SACO RIVER RAILROAD COMPANY. [Furnished by W. F. Perry, president, Bridgton, Me.] Our railroad is but 16 miles long, we have an abundance of good road material or gravel on the line, and we would make any reasonable concession in hauling it to improve our roads. The actual cost of moving it on the railroad to the point most needed would be about 25 cents per yard. The management of our roads is simply outrageous. Anything nearest to hand is used. I have been trying to convince our selectmen of the bad results from such management, and that good drainage and a plenty of good gravel would be much better and cheaper in the end. WEST VIRGINIA CENTRAL AND PITTSBURG RAILWAY COMPANY. [Furnished by C. L. Bretz, general manager, Cumberland, Md.] Good road material can be obtained along the line of this road in abundance, at a minimum cost, at numerous points. At two or three points along the line limestone is found in large quantities, at which points limekilns are being erected and the building of stone crushers con |