The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1910-07-30
GOOD ROADS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
EaNT1rE
GOOD ROADS COST

GOOD ROADS COST.
How few automobiles and tour
!, lists realize as they glide over IT,
good or bad roads of New York stat
what the upkeep of these highway
and byways is costing their town
county, and State, and, Indirect:
them. If they would stop to think @
this there would be much less pro
family when one chances upcl E1l,
puddle difficult to dodge.
In the first place, the average, Or
) rather, the majority Of tourists haFf
no idea Of the number Of miles c
roads in New York State which rlus
he annually repaired, cftentime:
sefni-annualIy. Frank .. Lyon, tAt
Deputy Commissioner OF the State
Highway Department, has furnished
statistics and information On this
subject which are not only starting
| aid surprising. but vastly interesting
to motorists.
/ There are in tho Empire State
eGH9 niles Of roads, a greater mile
/ aEe Of which is improved highway
tt.an I'll the other Eastern States put
tcget her. not including Massachusetts,.
| IhGrc are now 1000 miles Of State
reads and more under construction.
There are macadam reads tctaling
III mileage 2,4G0 CONSTRUCTED br
toyn5 There are more than 40,C9a
miles OF earth roads, properly shaped
ard crowned, stones picked and re-
moved. depressions filed, culyerts
ard bridges repaired. Towns have
constructed 5000 miles CT gravel
roads. in first-class condition.
TO keep these roads Eavisable, 50
to speak, shape means work, SIS
tematic. untiring labor on the part OF
q great corps Of people. The State
: is divided into nine districts. With
Mr. Lyon in actual charge CT these.
Each district has a superintendent,
al assistant to Mr. Lyon. Then the
State is again subdiyided into forty
four counties under the supervision
Of ffty-fouR superintendent, who, in
turn are answerable to the nine as
sistants Of Mr.. Lyon. Then it is
further subdivided into ga towns. TN
der a3l 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 10000
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
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" say
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 s2,504,s75.23. The State is
turning over to the towns to aid
them in this work sl,593,o70. Bridge !
work during the year 1910 is to cost |
sG2S,414.G3. The amount to be paid |
out for new machinery is s1S0,011.25 !
Special road improvements in town
4 the State are to cost 1919, 1867
in all s5,1S5,S 77.33 to be
pended by towns this year.
The State is to bond itself for 49,
09O, 900 for the construction Of State |
roads Towns and counties are to |
be called upon to provide as their |
share, s5,000.000. The State Legis-
lature has appropriated s1,SGo,ooo for |
the maintenance of State roads al
ready constructed.
The sum of 81 S5,S77.33 is to be /
expended in one year for road con-
truction and Improvement through
ut the great Empire State-that is,
this amount is available for the
work, and in all probability will he
utilized By the State Department /
York Times.