The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-01-10
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5 GOOD ROADS NOTES, B
Connecticut Highways.
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The first payments are being made
from the Connecticut State Treasury
to the various towns which have
availed themselves of the road i'm
provement law passed by the last
Legislature. The essential features
of that statute are he payment by the
State of three-quarters of the cost of
improved roads in towns With tax
list of $1,O00,000 or less and two
thirds of the cost in towns with tax
list of more than $1,0OO,000; the
State not to spend more than Sits. 900
in one year nor more than $4,000 in
any one town annually; the sum of
$4,000 a year for State inspection to
come out of the $175, 900; and pro-
viso by which q town may, with the
assent OF the State Highway Commis-
sion, use the full amount Of the ap-
preparation for two years.
The returns OF the Highway Com
missioner's Office show q remarkable
success of the new law. Out of 169
towns in the State lis have this year
made applications. Out of the $780,
900 appropriated by the State for two
years-or 1888, 900, excluding inspec-
ton yexpenses-all but $50, 900 is ex-
jhausted by the applications of, the 115
towns, which will receive from $50O
to S4500 each from the State. The
law, only relates to main roads bo-
tween towns, and Of these it is esti-
mated at the Commissioners Office
that on 500 miles Improvements have
now been completed since State aid
began and on several hundred miles
more improvements are in progress or
immediately projected. During 1899
and 1900, including payments by the
towns, the outlay under the law,
present and prospective, amounts to
about $453, GOO. In fifty-three of the
lis towns gravel roads or regarding
has been done or is in progress, in
some cases preliminary to hardened
roads.
Under the various laws passed at
recent sessions of the State Legisla'
ture, there has been on outlay of about
$500, 900 and 1873 towns out OF 16S in
the State have availed themselves of
the various State.aid laws. A very en-
couraging feature of this statute is the
large number of small country towns
which have begun highway improve
ment, and the sum OF $50, 900 of the
State appropriation still left will be
given first to the towns not yet apply.
ing, aud secondly, to the towns which
have not asked for more than $500.
The secondary effects of the law in i'm.
proving roads aud awakening commu.
mites in the State to the Importance
ot better highways have been very
great. not few towns spending much
larger sums than usual outside of the
law, and one town spending $50, 600.
In regarding roads, also, much money
has been spent effectively, and an
evil in the old Connecticut highways
considerably abated.
There is complaint that some of thu
towns do not keep the State-aid road:
in proper repair, as provided for under
the law, and that important branch ol
the statute remains to be tested. II
such cases the law provides that th.
State can make the repairs and the
town must pay for them. The eager
ness to take advantage of the existing
law for State aid is indicated by the
fact that the rs towns applying al
did so within period of six weeks.