Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1900-11-17
STATE AID FOR ROADS
PROGRESS OF THE MOVEMENT FOR
IMPROVED HIGHWAYS.
What New Jersey IIns Accomplish
ed-UOw the Expense Is Divided.
Mnssnchuaetts' Good Work - Adj
Nnncc In Connecticut.


Mnssnchuaetts' Good work - Adj
vance In Connecticut.
More than half the states have pass
ed new and progressive road laws and
many hundreds of miles of good roads
have already been built under the in
hucncc of the new conditions of admin
istration, finance and construction.
The general trend of legislation enact
ed in these states is as follows: More
rigid provisions for carrying out the
old systems without radical change in
the systems themselves, more liberal
tax levicS. substitution of money tax
instead of labor local assessment, ac-
cording to benefits, for the construc-
ton of new roads; construction by
townships, counties and districts. with
power to issue bonds; state highway
commissions, provisions for working
convicts. regulations compelling and
encoura gng the use of wide tires, state
aid to road building and construction
of state roads.
New Jersey was the first state to
take any radical step toward the i'm
provement of her publit~ highways.
Her state aid law was passed in 1891.
1t provides that on petition of the own
ers of two-thirds of the lands bordering
any public road not less than mile in
length asking that the road be imprOv
ed and agreeing to pay 10 per cent OF
the cost the county officials shall I'M
prove the road, one-third of the eX-
penses to he borne by the state if the
road is brought to the standard fixed by
the state commissioner of public roads
and the balance 66 % per cent? by the
county. The states expenditures for
such improvements in any one year are
limited to $15O.O0O, while the county is
limited to one-fourth of per cent of
its assessed valuation. At this rate the
law makes possible the expenditure of
$3.50 900 a year. and at $1,000 per mile
this builds 100 miles of road. Ten
miles of road were built in 1892, %
miles in 1893, GO miles in 1894, and
since 1893 the applications for new
roads have been far in excess of the
limit prescribed by law.
Under this law about $50 miles of I'M
proved road have already been built in
New Jersey the states portion Of the
! expense being about $115,S00. The
| counties and towns have built out of
/ their own treasures 40 more miles,
| which brings the total mileage of I'M
/ proved roads for the state up to 800.
| These roads cost at first about $4,000
/ per mile. but on account of the reduc-
ton in the price of materials and the
| increase of labor saving machinery the
| cost has been reduced to about half
| this amount. The farmers. who at first
/ strongly opposed the law, are now
equally enthusiastic for it, and more
roads are being petitioned for than can
possibly be built in many years out Of
the limited state appropriation. The
system seems to be popular with all
classes, and ii is being carefully con-
sidered by the legislatures of other
states. Its principles have been adopt
ed by Massachusetts, Connecticut
Rhode Island. New York and Calfor-
MIA. These laws of which state aid is
the principal feature are regarded by
the active advocates Of road reform as
affording a satisfactory solution of the
problem.
Massachusetts. like New Jersey, also
has adopted system of road improve
ment which it Is believed will result in
few years in securing to that state
highways that will be second in excel
lcnce to none in the United States and
equal TO some of the best in the old
world. The state has n permanent
/ highway commission consisting of
three persons. Each year this commits
sion is allowed to spend 100000 for
building and maintaining roads, which
are called state roads. The law pro-
vides that not more than ten miles Of
road can be built in any one county in
q year and that within six years after
the construction of any state road the
county in which the road is situated
must pay to the state one-fourth of the
money expended. Nearly 300 miles OF
excellent roads have been built in Mas
sachusettS under this new system, the
average cost per mile Of which was
about $4,000.
Connecticut has made rapid progress
in building highways during the last
five years. 1t now has highway COM
UllSSlOll. VI ulCI WIS PRIV lItb lSOO-u
with $4J0,00O and in 1913 with $780,
600 for road Improvement. In 1896
the state paid one-third the expense Of
constructing the roads, the town one
third and the county the remainder.
but in 1878 the state increased its
part of the expense to one half, the 9th
er half being borne by the towns.
Although the Rhode Island commits
sioner of highways does not favor
state aid as adopted in the adjacent
states. the legislature has at his sug-
gestion passed law which enables
him to build half mile sample of good
mGcadamized highway in each town.
These permanent object lessons are of
great benefit to the towns where good
highways have not been built and are
conducive tC more liberal appropria-
tlons for new roads as we'll as more
thorough construction when the local
authorities choose to carry the work
forward.
The legislature of New York passed a
bill last year which provides that the
states share in the Improvement of
highways shall be so per cent of the
cost, the countys share 80 per cent
and the towns share the remainder.
The boards of supervisors are given
the right TO decide what roads if any,
are to be improved, thus making the
matter of road improvement entirely