COUNTY OF BARNSTABLE.

Yarmouth Road.

[Petitioned for by the County Commissioners and Selectmen.]

This road is a part of the main highway of the county, leading from Boston to Provincetown, the longest, and in some respects the most important, wagon road on Cape Cod. Owing to the nature of the soil, this way is in a permanently bad condition. As it is used by the people of several towns, it seemed fit that the work of construction and the cost of maintaining it should be borne by the State. The foundation of the road is in good condition, and no considerable changes are required in its grades. The material to be used is crushed field stone, which needs to be hauled for an average distance of less than one mile. One mile of this road has been laid out, but work has not yet begun. The town of Yarmouth is the contractor. No grade has as yet been established.

COUNTY OF NANTUCKET.

Nantucket Road.

[Petitioned for by the County Commissioners and Selectmen.]

Owing to the small area and population of this county, there is but one road which, under existing conditions, is likely to be made a State highway, - that which extends from the village of the name across the island to the settlement known as Siasconset. This road, on account of the sandy nature of the soil, has been in bad condition since its use began. It is the most direct means of communication between the two settlements of the county.

Two miles of the road leading from the port village have been laid out and are being constructed. The material used for the macadam is broken stone from the Hudson River. The amount of serviceable bowlders in the island is limited in quantity, and in such size as to be very costly to prepare for the crusher, most of this supply being in the north-east part of the arca, a mile or more distant from the nearest portion of the highway which is being constructed. About 7,000 feet of the road bed has been graded, covered with screened gravel and rolled, and about one mile of the road bed has

been covered with broken stone. The town of Nantucket is the contractor. The maximum grade is 3 per cent. The work is in progress.

COUNTY OF PLYMOUTH.

On account of its large area, the ill condition of its roads, and the probability that work could be continued relatively late into the winter, the commission have undertaken to construct more roads in this than in any other county.

Mattapoisett Road.

[Petitioned for by the Selectmen.]

This road is a part of the highway from New Bedford to Cape Cod,one of the natural ways which skirts the coast line of the Commonwealth. The testimony showed a large amount of summer travel, and much traffic between the farmers and the market town of New Bedford. No grade changes were required. One mile of this road has been contracted for. The macadam is to be made from crushed field stone. About one-quarter of a mile of this road has been graded. The town of Mattapoisett is the contractor. The maximum grade is 4 per cent.

Marion Road.

[Petitioned for by the Selectmen.]

This road, like the last described, of which it is a direct continuation, is a part of the main coast highway. The conditions of construction are the same as in the case of the Mattapoisett road. One mile in length has been laid out and contracted for by the town. About one-half mile of this road is graded, and about 350 feet covered with broken stone. The maximum grade is 2.87 per cent.

Plymouth Road.

[Petitioned for by the Selectmen.]

This is a portion of the coastal highway leading from Boston toward Provincetown. The sandy nature of the foundation has made it particularly hard to maintain the way in good order. One mile of this road has been laid out

and contracted for by the town, the material to be used to be crushed field stone. Considerable changes of the grades were required. The road is now all graded, and is being covered with broken stone. The maximum grade is 4.50 per cent. The town of Plymouth is the contractor.

Duxbury Road.

[Petitioned for by the Selectmen.]

This is another part of the main shore way of the State. Its conditions of construction are the same as those of the Plymouth road. One-half mile has been laid out. The grading is about half done, and the work is now in progress. The town of Duxbury is the contractor. The maximum grade is 3.50 per cent.

Marshfield Road.

[Petitioned for by the Selectmen.]

This is a third section of the coast way leading from Boston southward. It is immediately connected with the one last described, and presents the same conditions. Onehalf mile has been contracted for with the town. The maximum grade is 4.60 per cent. The grading is done, and half the road bed is covered with broken stone. The town of Marshfield is the contractor.

Whitman Road.

[Petitioned for by the Selectmen.]

This is a part of the main highway connecting the town of Whitman with the city of Brockton. Its value as a principal way of intercommunication between these two places, and its position as part of a main extended highway leading from Boston to the interior towns of the south-eastern district, as well as to the "Cape," led to its acceptance by the commission. One mile has been contracted for with the town. The macadam is to be made from crushed field stone. No work has been done on this road as yet. The maximum grade is 2.50 per cent. The town is the contractor.

Middleborough Road.

[Petitioned for by the Selectmen.]

This is a part of the main highway leading from Middleborough toward the base of the "Cape," and affording a path

of exit for a considerable district which has no railroad facilities. It connects with the main way which skirts the southern shore. One mile of this road has been laid out. The macadam is to be of field stone. The town of Middleborough is the contractor. No work has yet been done on this road. The maximum grade is not yet established.

Hingham Road.

[Petitioned for by the Selectmen.]

This is a part of the main coastal way from Boston southward. About one and one-half miles have been laid out, the hardened part of the way to have a width of twenty feet. Gravel from a pit near Weymouth Back River is the material used. About one mile of the road is graded. The town of Hingham took the contract. The maximum grade is 5 per

cent.

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COUNTY OF BRISTOL.

Fairhaven Road.

[Petitioned for by the Selectmen.]

This road is a section of the coast way extending from New Bedford to Cape Cod at the "Narrows." Other sections are noted in Plymouth County under the names Mattapoisett" and "Marion." The conditions are identical in all three of these highways. The foundation of the road was in good order, and no changes of grade were necessary. One mile of the road has been contracted for, the macadam to be made from crushed field stone. About 500 feet of this road is graded. The town of Fairhaven is the contractor. The maximum grade is 4 per cent.

Westport Road.

[Petitioned for by the County Commissioners.]

This is the main highway between Fall River and New Bedford, the two largest cities of the county, and is also the principal traffic way for the important towns of Dartmouth and Westport. The way is in bad condition, the towns not being able to maintain a road which is mainly used by wagons coming from the east or west. Two miles have been contracted for with the town of Westport, the material to be macadam made from ledge rock. The commissioners have

some doubt as to the economy of using this material, but on account of the great cost of proper trap rock at this point they have decided to make the trial. No work has as yet been done on the road. The maximum grade has not yet been established.

North Attleborough Road.

[Petitioned for by the Selectmen.]

This is a part of the main highway from Boston to Providence; other portions have been accepted and will be mentioned under the county of Norfolk. The road has a large intertown and some interstate traffic. To the town the cost

of repairs, on account of the extensive use of the road by other communities, was serious. One mile of the way has been laid out, the material for macadamizing being broken field stone. Nineteen hundred and fifty-eight feet of this road is graded and covered with broken stone. The town of North Attleborough took the contract. The maximum grade is 1.40 per cent.

COUNTY OF ESSEX.

The commissioners have been somewhat hindered in their action concerning the work in this county by delays in obtaining completed surveys, and in securing through the local authorities releases for land to be taken in widening roads, takings which would have been costly if obtained by the State Board.

Gloucester Road.

[Petitioned for by the Mayor and Board of Aldermen.]

This road is a part of the highway following the north shore of Massachusetts Bay. The portion petitioned for by Gloucester commences at the Manchester line and extends towards the city. The road is now narrow, and extends for a part of the distance through the woods. The city government has agreed to provide the land necessary for a suitable location, and the commission proposes to construct a mile of the road, commencing at the Manchester line. The city is the contractor. The material is to be local field and ledge stone. No work has as yet been done here. The maximum grade will probably be 5 per cent.