The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1911-11-29
PLANNING WORK
FOR MODEL ROADS
Pennsylvania to Lead In High
way Construction
CONTRACTS UNDER new LAW

eesh,areS Purpose OF PropV sd
ssnS lssus-SuppSrt Of Tener Ad,
mislssrsttsn,
rhs STATE AtsAwsN Department is
planning fpr Pennsylvania the best
system el uapr0Vea roSds in this
country Az erHeSal ol that depart.
Reae predicted vSSeatly that when the
vos& u esS projected shall have been
eeRRlste1 the yOSdS ot the keystone
Sase ~Ga,a Ne unsurpassed by the
ssmSaS highways OF France, Ger.
assy Ssa other European countries.
Me&el go&iS for PENNSYLVANIA has been
rss&e possible by the enactment by
tAs legislature al its recent session
x the measure popularity known
as the "Sproul road bill" This
legislation received the earnest sup
port Of Governor John X, 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 1t was organ.
lied is the most liberal OF all highway
acts where the state assists in paying
portion of the cost of reconstruct
Ing roads. Under this law $4,000, 900
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
maintenance fund and apportioned to
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-tive 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 SprouI Law.
The great demand for 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 its 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 CON-
prised of about 5000 miles of public
roads and turnpikes as described 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 6 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.
teys of each route must be made and
a map showing all details must be pre-.
pared. The several routes shall be taken
over by the department on or before
June /, 1912, except that portion of a
route which traverses a turnpike road
upon which tolls are collected.
The taking over of the toll roads
will be deferred until the money from
the proposed bond issue becomes
available. The 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 and
afterwards approved by the people.
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 debt
created to supply deficiencies in reve.
nue. shall never exceed in the aggre-
gate at any one time, one million OF
doGars; provided. however that the
General Assembly, irrespective of any
debt, may authorize the state to issue
bonds to the amount Of fifty millions
Of dollars for the purposes of improv.
Ing and rebuilding the highways OF
the commonwealth"
Three Millions Available.
The work of maintenance. repair
and construction of state highways
will be carried on as equally and uni.
formly in the several counties as con.
ditions will permit All contracts for
the construction Of state highways
must be let to the lowest responsible
bidders, with the option on the part
of the State Highway Commissioner
to reject any or all bids. Contracts
must be made in the name of the com
mOnWoalth must he annroved nv fha
Governor and must be approved as to
form and legality by the Attorney
General or Deputy Attorney General.
The Sproul law appropriates three
million dollars to establyish and carry
On the work OF the department and
TOR the purpose of maintenance, re-
i.... ~ 4. lcrh