The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-08-02
a. COUNTIES ASK FOR STATE AID

|
Harrisburg, July 29,-Forty-seven
of the counties of Pennsylvania
have asked for State aid in the con-
struction of roads aggregating al
most 740 miles in length in less
than a year, and as rapidly as es-
| Inmates can be made and the approv-
al by county commissioners and To-
cal authorities given to these esti
mates, the State Highway Depart
ment will take the steps necessary
to award contracts. Many of the
applications for the assistance of the
commonwealth on a basis of one-half
the cost, as provided by the Sproul
law of 1911, have not been followed
up by officials in the districts pro-
posed to be improved, with the re-
suit that work of lettering high
ways has been retarded.
The provisions of the act of 1911
are similar to those of previous
good roads laws, except that where
boroughs or townships unite with
counties in asking for state aid
they are to receive but fifty per cent.
| instead of seventy-five per cent. of
the cost. The State aid feature of
the earlier laws was retained in the
Sproul law, which, however, is best
known because of its provision for a
system of main state highways. In
other words, the means of obtaining
State aid in construction of roads is
in force as much to-day as it was
five years ago, only the terms have
changed. Where applications have
been made for construction of
roads on the basis of one-half of the
cost to be paid by the State the en-
gineers of the State Highway de-
partment make estimates which are
then forwarded to local authorities
for their information and approval
before bids are asked for construc-
ton.
Westmoreland leads the forty
seven counties asking for State aid
in the mileage of roads covered ap-
plications, the total in 16 petitions
being 40O,120 feet. Beaver county
leads in number of applications
made for improvement of its high
ways and is second to Westmoreland
in mileage, it's figures being &c ap-
plications covering 340,172 miles
The standing of other counties is as
follows: Bucks, 20 applications,
2S8,SSO feet; Mayette 21, 21O,247;
Butler, IA, 2O9,4SO and Greene IA,
2O7,425. 1t will thus be seen that
western counties have taken front
rank in the movement for better
roads. Following are the figures
for the other counties, the number
OF applications being first given and
then the total length in feet:
Adams, 2-15,17S.
Allegheny, 5-3S,9S0.
Armstrong, S-9S,000.
Berks, 4-43,5S0.
Bradford, 80, $50.
Blair, 4-126,20O.
Cambria, 6-47,277.
Carbon, 1-1O,56O.
Center, 1-5,50O.
Chester, 17-199,33O.
Clarion, $4,000.
Clearfeld, 4-64,S4O.
Clinton, 3-20,411.
Columbia, 1-4,235.
Crawford, 1-17,000.
Cumberland, 3-49,S0O.
Dauphin, 5-7S,265.
Delaware, 9-109,540.
Elk, 6-93,135.
Erie, 4-42,2OO.
Forest, Ii, 100.
Franklin, 5-63,OO4.
, Indiana, 2-35,415.
. Jefferson, 9-121,623:
Lancaster, 5-69'377.
, Lawrence, 9-78,733.
Lebanon, 6-47,732.
Luzerne, 2-21,940.
Mexican, 2-52,437.
! Mercer, 16-17O,69O.
Mifflin, lie, 1000.
/ Monroe, 4-24,935.
Montgomery, 12-94,02O.
northumberland, 3-16,212.
Potter, 2-24,S40.
5 Somerset, 4-17,51O.
} Susquehanna, 4-18,66O.
2 Tioga, 1-1S,4S0.
Warren, 1-17,751.
} Washington, 12-163,430.
2 Wayne, 5000.
= The total number of application
5 is over 800 and it is expected tha
by the end of the year this numbe
= will be materially increased. TIL,
0 proposition of State aid in roat
I building is being better UNDERSTOOD
t and the Improvement of such road
n will supply important connections
= to the States main highway system
Q and also link up sections alread
!, constructed
s Under the proposed issue of $50,
e 100000 of bonds for improvement
S of highways State aid work will b
k facilitated, as ii Is recognized tha
v this is destined to create a system O
l roads through communities no
t touched by main highways. Tn
:, constitutional amendment providin
II for the bond issue was passed 70
n the first time by the legislature G
y 1911 and the men now running 70
2 the legislature of 1913 will vot
upon II for the second time, thi
II action being necessary before it goe