The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-05-16
STATE ROAD BODIES NEEOHD'
Could Urge Concrete Bridge and Perraa.
nent Town Highways

V S"u
The importance of State good roads
associations IL not appreciated In the ma
jority Of States throughout the country.
s,ys George C.. DiehI OF Buffalo. chairman
OF the American Automobile Association
rood roads board. This Is especially true
In the States which have built 9 great many
miles of roads with state aid. In many
states the only good roads organizations
are those which are composed entirety OF
the motorists. While the automobilfsts
consistently supported by the Association
of Licensed Automobile Manuf acturers.
the National Association OF Automobile
Manufacturers and the American Motor
Car Manufacturers Association do not
beSrudge the time which they spend In
these organizations, they feel nat more
valuable results could be obtained by hsv-
ing associations representative OF not only
tho motorists but OF the farmers. the county
commissioners county boards OF supervisors
and the minor highway officials throughout
the States.
Such organizations permit the chief
highway Officials Of the State to keep In
touch with public sentiment and dissent
nate the know edge gained through the
experience Of such officials. They also
act as a check upon the chief highway ON
Gals when inclined to follow unwise coun-
Issls. These state associations should meet
regularly and suggest the proper forms OF
new highway. laws and desirable amend
nents TO the existing statutes. Two I'M
portaut subjects which State highway
associations could properly urge are: ]
Ftrst-The construction OF permanent
masonry bridges,
sseSna. The Strprivemeot Of town or
Few Of the States aid In the construction
Of bridges. The entire burden Of construc-
ton must be borne by the township or
local municipality. The result 10 sections
where bridges are numerous has been that
inferior structures have heen erected owing
to lack of funds. The type usually adopted
In such cases has been a light iron or steel
81 perstructure with plank flooring and
railroad iron. pile sub-structurs or Roorlyy
such bridges usually, does not exceed thirty
or forty years. and II not promptly replaced
they constitIte a menace 70 az users 81 the
highway. The usual ais consist Of
placing an inferior iron,or steel bridge over
the old weakened foundation;
The local highway officials not having
| technical training are frequently misled
or corrupted by INSCRIPTIONS agents
The bridges constitute an absolutely essen
tisl part Of the highway and should be
part at least state expense, Within result
that in place of weak and inferior structures
solid, attractive and durable concrete
@ es,asss S' 70 tie Re h isiSssa o n AZ IN sn o !.
Of such work.
me cost q erecting q reinforced concrste
b. bridge I Re ,'tsis II d say IN e1 s,esi Of .t1 1Ss S9:.
The cost OF repairs and maintenance Of
concrete, bridges is nothing; consequently
they endure ages: suon strnctures are at
sons. being pleasing to the eye q elimi-
mating the probability of accident,
many generations be dirt roads is rather
lost sight S Of: BY P.0ps or care :6ss and ds ssRer c.s on
made for the greater part Of the year al
most as satisfactory as hard surface roads.
To show the impossibility Of maoadamirinR
limited period Of time It is sufioient TO SAY
t thss n tne sSs t tTs Sv ss. Zoo $se.d %i1ss q
more II: a't That. 4, lie lessor cost tSs g,
roads IN ne country would s. sio. 900. COO
heaviest and witch accommodate the
greatest population, are estimated TO b
Innate I'M e' improve%eni Of tSsss main roads
can b re4son.bly entieipated public
sentiment is properly rouse q i'm
| but should 70 forward hand In hand With
the Improvement OF town, roads. In some
localitles for . years tho entire amount
Of hiehway tates. whstheI payable IN cash
Sorf. While nothins Sc 6esp spent fer
that the condition. Of the town roads re-
mained UNCHANGED. The roads IN some
plsoss are no better to;dSy than tAey ,wSre
n nnS I sss.s "a: ..o.n nSSssS''n'a.ndins tho labor
there q Annually expended on the town
or lateral roads Of the country GA,o0o, OoC
IN cash and TO, coo. 900 In labor. To sScure
proper improyepept OF the town roads Il
9 neoessary TO ABOLISH the labor tax which
. ); sab sshSs z : Money Az. Il : siso s.o sne
eAry 70 spend . certain amount each yeAr
for permanent improvements in order that
each year may see constantly impfovins
road oopditione, Many. local ofAciAis ars
inexperienced II il desirable % have The
and superintend the worf. done By local
o~tieisls upon the town roads. Such super
vision implies chat there should Be stats
aid In. cash for town roads.
Under such circumstances L IL not din
cult to enact hxed rules and Regulations
C o1ss as Ssp s! SfO y IL ~ ,a M9,t Srssa 1Ast ne!
tensnos and thai the other bali shall 5,
used 10 construct permanent improve
Under soeh . sys.sm. 10 addition to such
might enforce. there would BE- eIpenSsd
for permansnt eettsrtneats about 10000,
900 annually On, the lateral roads through,
OUT the counties, The moro important Ia.
roads should be nrst improved. We mpsi
A. a. fr,rrovSS rcsSsIhstS %St 10y