The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1910-07-08
GOOD ROADS


GOOD ROADS, COST.

How few autOmOD1l1StS ana tour
lists realize as they glide over the
good or bad roads of New York State
what the upkeep of these highways
and byways is costing their town,
county, and State, and, indirectly
them. If they would stop to think Of
this there would be much less pro.
family when one chances upon mud
puddle difficult to dodge.
In the first place, the average, or,
rather, the majority Of tourists have
no idea of the, number of miles of
roads in New York State which must
be annually repaired, oftentimes
semi-annually. Frank d. Lyon, the
Deputy Commissioner of the State
Highway Department, has furnished
statistics and information on this
subject which are not only startling
and surprising, but vastly interesting
to motorists.
There are in tho Empire State
$4,000 miles of roads, a greater mile
age of which is improved highway
than all the other Eastern States put
together, not including Massachusetts,.
There are now 1000 miles Of State
roads and more under construction.
There are macadam roads totaling
in mileage 2,400 constructed by
towns. There are more than 10000
miles Of earth roads, properly shaped
and crowned, stones picked and re-
moved, depressions filled, culverts
and bridges repaired. Towns have
constructed 5000 miles of gravel
roads, in first-class condition.
To keep these roads navigable, so
to speak, shape means work, sys.
tematic, untiring labor on the part of
a great corps of people. The State
is divided into nine districts, with
Mr.. Lyon in actual charge Of these.
Each district has a superintendent,
an assistant to Mr.. Lyon. Then the
State is again subdivided into forty
four counties under the supervision
of fifty-four superintendent, who, in
turn are answerable to the nine as
sistants of Mr.. Lyon. Then it is
further subdivided into 934 towns, I'M
der 934 Town Superintendent. By
this system Commissioner Lyons can
reach within twenty-four hours after
notification, any road in the State in
need of repair.
Work of construction and repair
is now at it's height, and Mr.. Lyons
report of recent date showed that on
one particular day there was $4,000
men and teams on the roads of the
State.
Cooperation on the part of auto
mobilists with the State authorities
is urged by the State Highway De-
partment Mr.. Lyon asks that tour
lists running across anything wrong
with the roads Immediately report
the same to him.. In this way tour
ists-those who are actually using
the roads-will not only aid the
State, but themselves, in keeping the
highways in the best Of condition.
"The upkeep of motor cars" says
Mr.. Lyon, will this year be reduced
to 40 per cent in my mind, on &C
count of repairs to highways being
made"
Towns are this year raising by
taxes for highway improvement the
sum of SCHOOLGIRLS. The State is
turning over to the towns to aid
them in this work $1,593,070. Bridge
work during the year 1910 is to cost
$62S,414.63. The amount to be paid
out for new machinery is $180,011.25.
Special road improvements in towns
Of the State are to cost $279, 7O6.22.
making in all $5,185,S77.33 to be ex-
pended by towns this year.
The State is to bond itself for $19,-
100000 for the construction of State
roads. Towns and, counties are to
be called upon to provide as their
share, $5.OO0,OOO. The State Legis-
lature has appropriated $1.S00,000 for
the maintenance of State roads al
ready constructed.
The sum of s21 1856, S77.33 is to be
expended in one year for road con-
struction and improvement through
out the great Empire State-that is,
this amount is available for the
work. and in all probability will be
utilized by the State Department Of
Highways.-New York Times.