The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-12-01
PLANNING WORK
FOR MODEL ROADS
Pennsylvania to Lead in High
way Construction.
CONTRACTS UNDER new LAW

ouehfares - Purpose of Proposed
Bond Issue-Support of Tener Ad.
ministration.
The State Highway Department is
planning for Pennsylvania the best
system of improved roads in this
country. An official of that depart
ment predicted recently that when the
work it has projected shall have been
completed the roads of the Keystone
State would be unsurpassed by the
famous highways of France, Ger
many and other European countries.
Model roads for Pennsylvania has been
made possible by the enactment by
the legislature at its recent session
of the measure popularity known
as the "Sproul road bill" This
legislation received the earnest sup
port Of Governor John K. Tener, who
during the campaign of last year in
public addresses repeatedly empha-
sized the fact that he was an enthusi-
astic good roads advocate and that the
influence of his administration would
be eXerted for the advancement of the
good roads movement. Since its in.
ception the good roads movement in
this state has been under Republican
legislation.
The State Highway Department was
established during the administration
of Governor Samuel w. Pennypacker,
and the act under which it was organ
lied is the most liberal of all highway
acts where the state assists in paying
a portion of the cost of reconstruct
ing roads. Under this law $9,500,000
was appropriated and expended for
reconstruction work from June /,
1908, to May 81, 1911. During that
period $50 miles of road were recon
structed. Ten per cent. of the amount
appropriated was set aside as a
maintenance fund and apportioned tn
the several townships and counties
according to the number of miles of
improved roads therein, which had
been maintained to conform to the
states standard. Under this law the
state paid seventy-five per cent. OF
the cost of reconstruction; the town
ship and county each paying one
eighth of the total cost of improve
ment. The maintenance of these
roads after construction was placed in
the hands of the township supervis
ors.
Improvements Under Sproul Law.
The great demand for a system OF
connected improved highways and
for a system of maintenance of the
roads already reconstructed and OF
those reconstructed and improved in
the future had it's consummation in
the enactment of the Sproul bill
This act reorganized the State High
way Department. 1t provides for two
systems of road work. The first des
ignated as "State Highways" is com
prised of about 5000 miles of public
roads and turnpikes as descrihcl in
296 routes. These roads are the prin
cipal main thoroughfares or highways
forming and being main travelled
roads or routes between the county
seats of the several counties of the
commonwealth, and to the state line
and between principal cities, Dor
oughs and towns. They will be mark
ed, built or rebuilt, repaired and main
tanned by and at the sole expense Of
the state and they will be under the
exclusive authority and jurisdiction OF
the State Highway Department. Sur
veys of each route must be made anG
map showing all details must be pre-
pared. The several routes shall be taker
over by the department on or before
June 1, 1912, except that portion of c
route which traverses a turpnike roGt
upon which tolls are co'ec'ed.
The taking over of lie fcIl roads
will be deferred until the moAey from
the proposed bond issue become
| available. TIE bonds cannot be is
sued until the resolution amending
| section four of article nine of the
state constitution is adopted at the
next session of the legislature am
/ afterwards approved by the peop e
Section four after amendment will
read as follows: mo debt shall be
| created by or on behalf of the state
except to supply casual deficiencies Of
revenue, repel invasion, suppress in
| surrection, defend the state in war
or to pay existing debt; and the deb
created to supply deficiencies in reve
nue. shall never exceed in the aggre
gate at any one time, one million o.
dollars; provided, however that the
General Assembly, irrespective of any
debt, may authorize the state to issue
bonds to the amount of fifty million;
Of dollars for the purposes of improv
ing and rebuilding the highways Of
he commonwealth"
Three Millions Available.
The work of maintenance, repaIl
and construction of state highway:
will be carried on as equally and uni
formly in the several counties as con
ditions will permit. All contracts foI
the construction of state highway:
must be let to the lowest responsible
bidders, with the option on the par
of the State Highway Commissioner
to reject any or all bids. Contract,
must be made in the name of the com
|