Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1911-07-20
WHAT GOOD ROADS 90 COST
New York to Expend Over $5,0o0,o0o
This Year In Repair
Work.

How few automobiles and tourists
realize as they glide over the good or
bad roads of New York state hat
the upkeep Of these highways and by
ways is costing their town, county n
state, and indirectly them. If they
would stop to think of this there would
be much less profanity when a
chances upon a 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, h 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 the Empire state So
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 2,4O0, constructed by towns.
There are more than 10000 miles Of
earth roads, properly shaped and
crowned, stones picked and removed,
depressions filled, cu1verts 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,
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 un-
der the supervision of f1ftyfour super
i~ntendents, who in turn are ~answerable
to the nine assistants Of Mr.. Lyon.
Then it is further subdivided into 934
towns, under 934 town superintend-
ents. By this system Commissioner
Lyon 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 re-
port of recent date showed that on one
particular day there were 10000 men
and teams on the roads of the state.
Cooperation on the part of automo-
bilists with the state authorities is
urged by the state highway depart
ment. Mr.. Lyon asks that tourists
running across anything wrong with
the roads Immediately report the same
to him. In this way tourists-those
who are actually using the roads
will not only aid the state, but them
selves, in keeping the highways In the
best OF condition.
sssFhe upkeep Of motor cars" says
Mr.. Lyon, will this year be reduced
40 per cent. In my mind. on account
Of repairs to highways being made"
Towns are this year raising by
taxes for highway improvement the
sum OF $2.504 ,675.23. The state is
turning over to the towns to aid them
in this work 81. 3,070. Bridge work
during the year 1911 is to cost $685.
414.63. The amount to be paid out for
new machinery Is $1S0,011.25. Special
road Improvements in towns Of the
state are to cost $279, 706.2 o., making In
all $5,185, S77.33 to be expended by
towns this year.
The state is to bond itself for 49,.
600, 900 for the construction Of state
roads. Towns and counties are to be
called upon to provide as their share
SIS, 1000, 900. The state legislature has
appropriated S ,S00,000 for the main
tenance of state roads already o Z
structed.
The sum Of $21, eS5,S77.33 is to be
expended In one year. for. road con-
struction and improvement throughout
the great Empire state-that is, thig
amount Is available for the work, and
in all probability will be utilized by
the state department of highways.