The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1911-07-20
WHAT GOOD ROADS DO COST
New York to Expend over $5,0oo'oou
This Year In Repair
Work.

Work.
How few automobiles and tourists
realize as they glide over the good OF
bad roads of New York state wnae
the upkeep Of these highways and py,
ways is costing their town, county ana
state. and indirectly them. II they
would stop to teink Of this there "ouio
he much less profanity when one
chances upon a mud puddle dit1cult 10
dodge.
In the first place, the average, OF.
rather, the majority of tourists nave
no idea Of the number OF miles o4
roads in New York state which mus9
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 winch
are not only startling and surprising
hut vastly interesting to motorists.
There are in the Empire state 3d.
900 miles of roads, a greater mileage
of which is improved highway than
all the other eastern states put to-
gether. 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 100000 miles OF
earth roads, properly shaped ana
, crowned, stones picked and removed
, denressions 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, systematic,
r untiring labor on the part OF grea,
corps Of people. The state Is dlV1oeo
into nine districts, with Mr.. Lyon IL
actual charge of these. Each district
i has a superintendent, an assistant te
/ Mr.. Lyon. Then the state Is agar
Il subdivided into forty-four counties un
i der the supervision of fifty-four super
Il intendents, who in turn are ansWerapl'
Il to the nine assistants Of Mr.. Lyon
II Then it is further subdivided into 80
Il towns, under 934 town super1ntend
II ents. BY this system Commissions
Il Lvon can reach within twenty-fou
Il hours after notification any road i
II the state in need of repair.
r! Work Of construction and repair ]
now at it's height, and Mr.. Lyons n
II port of recent date showed that on on
Il particular day there were $4,000 me
II and teams on the roads OF the stat'
/. Cooperation on the part OF autom'
Il bilists with the state authorities
II urged by the state highway depar
Il ment. Mr.. Lyon asks that tourist
= running across anything wrong wit
the roads Immediately report the SAN
to him. In this way tourists-tho'
as who are actually using the roads
De will not only aid the state, but the1
selves, in keeping the highways IN u
cd best of condition.
W. 1.-THE upkeep Of motor cars sa:
ed Mr.. Lyon, "will this year be reduce
ur- 40 per cent. in my mind, on accou
nd of repairs to highways being made.
AK, Towns are this year raising
IDS taxes for highway improvement t
lit. sum Of $2,504,675.23. The state
oly turning over to the towns to aid the
IN THIS WOTh %l,Ooo,o'V' oAuoS w
fe, during the year 1911 is to cost $62
ley 414.63. The amount to be paid out
ht- new machinery is $1S0,011.25. Spec
icy road improvements in towns OF t
state are to cost $279, 7o6.22, making
all $5,185,877.33 to be expended
towns this year.
OBJ The state Is to bond itself for y
der 900 1000 for the construction OF ST
ade roads. Towns and counties are to
per called upon to provide as their sh'
Ia s.. 000.00 The state legislature
id. appropriated $1,S0o,oo0 for the me-
Of tenance of state roads already c
AN structed.
The sum Of $21,985,877.33 Is to
ew. expended in one year for road c
urn struction and improvement through
900 the great Empire state-that Is,
rom amount is available for the work.
mol in all probability will be utilized
Gin. the state department of highways.