The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-07-24

NEW PLAN TO secure COM
~ plete system of good roads
N in Pennsylvania, starting
from the county seats and
radatng in various directions, has
been formulated by Arthur Kirk,
Pittsburg enthusiast upon the subject,
the particular merit of which, as set
forth in Mr.. Kinks paper, the I'M
prOver, is that it will not impose a life
tenure of taxation upon the land own
ers of the state.
AS drafted for presentation to the
next legislature, Mr.. Kinks bill is eX-
ceedingly voluminous, comprising 40
sections. 1t provides for the state Office
of chief engineer of highways, salary
$4,000 q year, the occupant to be
supreme over all details in his depart
ment, and to name a chief highway
engineer in every county, salary $500
month. A council of three engineers,
salary $1,000 a year apiece, is to be
named by the state chief engineer, to
help him in deciding on plans and to
examine applicants for the county
chieftainship. The county chief in turn
is to appoint for each township a
township engineer salary 5000 a month,
and these various officers, after a
certain date are to take charge of all
the public highways within the COM
monwealth outside of the boroughs and
cities.
70 new road is to have more than 3
per cent. grade nor be less than 40 feet
wide. 1t must have in all 21 inches Of
stone, suitably rolled, layer upon layer
and suitably drained. Every county is
to have at least four radial roads 60
feet wide, connecting with similar
roads from the adjoining counties, all
beginning at the county seat Present
road taxes are to be reduced e-half
and paid into a bank in each county,
subject TO the state engineers draft,
this money to be applied to old and
new roads, except radial roads, and to
repairs. For the radial roads the
county commissioners, upon the state
engineers estimate, are to issue four
per cent. bonds, payable in thirty
years, the proceeds to be paid out by
-
the roads upon vouchers signed by the
county engineer. Taxes to pay these
bonds are to be levied by the county
commissioners All work to be done by
low bid after public advertisement ana
to be subject to specifications. Mile
stones, guide boards and roadside fruit
and shade trees are provided for.
on radial roads thus built and on
the basis of their cost, twenty year
lease of franchise to operate double
track trolley lines for freight and pas
scnEers is to be sold at public auc-
ton after due advertisement to the
highest responsible bidder whose bid
for the 20 year rental shall exceed the
total cost of road construction. This
Is lhe distinctive feasare of the Kirk
bill, and is expected by It's author to
produce sufficient revenue to carry
most if not all the expense Of the
whole system. He takes il fol granite
THAI there would be a brisk comDeti,
ton over these roadways, In View OF
their connecting county seat with coun.
~ seat. and he says: ~. ia not exab
bNlt'Alollt Dub BNAiNNNiS NlAlll'l lllt llllt
o. season, to believe that traction com.
papies could, and will in numerous in,
stances pay double the original cos
of the roadway for the franchise
They would be enabled to get thei
cars running with far less outlay o
mohey, and in less time, than If they
adopted an Independent line for thei
cars. They would have a roadbed pre-
pared for laying the rails, and string
ing the wires and in a few week.
could have cars running. On the othe
hand, take any of the suburban road
for. example and witness the costl,
bridges the heavy fills, and cuts the.
We're placed under the expense of be
fore they could operate car, the cos
OF which runs into hundreds of thous
ands of dollars, and it is readily seer
thai to pay one hundred thousand dol
lars total would be a large saving
thus it can be understood why a goo
road from one county seat to anOthe;
will be a source of brisk competition I
secure II and bring bidders who wou
pay a liberal premium over cost d
construction for the trolley rights"
This argument Is reasonable in ref