Norwich bulletin., 1909-05-01

the state. II VIII be nOtlCeQ IndL IN
every law towns have always had the
privilege accorded them of declaring
their intentions, and the amount of
money they might desire TO expepd
was entirely within their right and
privilege and must meet the sanction
of the voters Of the towns before any
operat lions could be commenced by the
state. No better emphasis of the ap-
prevail by the people of the present
law can be shown than this expression
On their part, at their first opportunity
TO record their wishes, under the pres
ent law, of what they desired to have
done for the accomplishment Of the
reformation of the highways Of the
state.
Much Work EntaiIed.-In taking un
this new law, with its numerous
changes and departures from former
laws. and putting it into operation, a
large obligation was placed upon the
department to intelligently and eco
nomically take care of the large
amount Of detail work that had never
before been entered upon by the de-
partment. One of the new features
requiring a large amount of thought
and careful consideration was the obi
cation placed on the state Of assuming
the caretaking of the entire mileage
Of roads constructed since the passage
Of the first good roads law in 1895
The volume of business ban ! Q under
stood best by the simple narration Of
the fact that there had been built
during the thirteen years. 1875 sections
of road, aggregating over six hundred
miles, scattered through one hundred
and sixty seven towns
The legislature of 1907 did not adj
journ until early in August 1t then
became imperative that an immediate
knowledge of every section Of highway
upon which state appropriation had
been expended should be had by the
department so that a treatment Of
those sections might be inrelligently
provided. The amount of money an
prOpriated for repairs was totally in
adequate to send out inspectors to in
vestigate the condition of every sec
ton OF road improved under state aid,
if any of that money was to be used
for the purpose intended-that of re-
pairing the roads. It was also neces-
sary that the condition of each section
of road should be known as elise up 10
the time the repair was to be made as
possible, together with the fact that a
system after full Investigation had
been made. should be adopted and pro-
mulgated as the fixed policy and plan
under which the state should carry on
the work in the future
After careful consideration and in
vestigatlon into this important matter,
a plan was adopted by the department
for giving immediate and personal at
tention and inspection over these Sec
tons, at the least possible expense.
This was. as finally adopted, to send
out a chart, containing informs ton. to
the several boards Of seleCtmen rela-
tive to the requirements of the depart.
ment upon which charts were to be
lAI TO al
questions propounded. The result Of
this was thoroughly satisfactory and
was accomplished at a very reasonable
cost to the towns as well as to the
state in the administration Of the work.
A plan was then adopted that would
comprehend giving every section Of
state road a portion of the money that
had been appropriated for that pur-
pose.
AS an illustration Of what this plan
developed in the apportionment Of the
money it is only necessary to relate
the fact that in disbursing this repair
fund to the several towns I'm which
state aid roads had been built seven
distinct and separate cIassifications
had to be observed in it's distribution
to the several towns entitled to the
money. Under the plan adopted, the
charts related the fact that in TWEEN
ty-tWo towns the choice had been for
macadam construction exclusively; in
eighteen towns, macadam and gravel
had been used; in thirty towns, the
work was divided between macadam
and grading; in thirty-six towns the
appropriations had been used for mac
adam, gravel and grading; in seven
teen towns, the appropriations had
been used for grading; in three towns
the entire opriations had been
used for gravel construction exclus-
lively, and in forty towns the appropri-
atoms had been divided between gravel
and graded roads, for which the state
had contributed her proportion of the
expense.
1t can be seen at a glance that in
the apportionment of the small amount
Of money placed in my hands, the
greatest care had to be exercised and
the incest discrimination observed.
This money was divided and appor-
toned so that one hundred and sixty
three miles were turnpiked and cul-
verts repaired, seventy miles of
gravel road were provided with a grav-
oof treatment, and 1904 tons of trap
rock were furnished for the macadam
construction
Towns were fully equipped with in
formation regarding the amount of
money that was allotted to them. and
full directions were given to towns.
under the state specification. how the
money should be used, or the material
applied.
A system was adopted for furnishing
stone for macadam roads and gravel
for gravel roads, on the basis of a Ger
tain price per mile for work done Al
so a certain sum per mile for work
done on dirt or graded roads-the
towns to work under a specification
furnished nv the dpnart
The plan worked out very satisfac-
torily to the towns. Every town I'm
which any section of highway had
been built since 1895 down to the pas
sage of the present law, was fully
eqipped with Information, and also