The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1913-01-17
BIENNIAL REPORT OF STATE
HIGHWAY Commissioner
More than $f0,OO0,O00 Has Been Spent
on Roads and Bridges in the State
During the Last Two Years

In the past eight years since the
Office Of the Highway Board was COM
pleted, which is composed of the
Governor, State Auditor, State Treasur-
er, State Highway Commissioner and
member Of the Public Service Commits
sion, about 200 miles OF state roads
have been built at cost of $1,000
900. The state has also aided the
counties in building 1876 miles of
State Aid Roads at a cost of 1885,
1850 and is now engaged in super
visory work in all but five of the thirty
nine counties of the state. For this
latter purpose, and to complete existing
contracts under State Aid, $1,230,000
for the current biennium and with few
exceptions the counties will use the
entire fund to their credit. There
have been 16o miles either partially or
sentirely built under this law, the char
acter and cost ranging from light grad
ing at cost of 81, 500 per mile to the
better roads with heavier grading and
with concrete bridges, costing $l0,-
900 mile and paving an additional
SIC, 900 to SIS, 900 mile.
The value of good roads to the
State of Washington will be better un-
derstood when it is known that the
1000 farms Of Washington yield S.
900 tons of produce annually, which
is hauled over the roads an average OF
eight miles from farm to shipping
point. 1t is estimated that at least So
100000 year may be saved in trans
portation on farm products by better
roads in Washington.
! One-third the taxes collected in the
state outside incorporated towns is
spent upon roads. Hence, the need
for intelligent treatment of the Road
| problem.
The permanent highway law tchap.
IS, Laws 1o11), is proving satisfactory
in securing more permanent roads in
the place Of temporary construction.
The one mill levy under the law
yields about s1,000.0O0 a year, and
this assures at least one, hundred miles
OF permanent highway each year,
In Chelan county there is total Of
634.1 miles Of improved and unim-
proved roads, of which amount 6.8
have been earth improved. Figures
from the state highway commissioners
report show that ID miles have been
improved by graveIling, Oh has been
corduroyed and the remaining 3.5 ma
cadamized. The longest stretch OF
improved road in the county is that
between Leavenworth and Peshastin.
The amount expended by Chelan
county from the permanent highway
fund, for work done in accordance with
chapter IS, laws Of 1911, from April
1st, 1911, to September 30th, 1912,
was So, ,333.o7.
Among the recommendations offered
to the highway board by Commissioner
Roberts, he states that at least one
east and west trunk road is a necessity
for the welfare of the state.
-Four such roads have been estab-
lished by the legislature. and addition
al ones proposed. One should be
constructed and opened before 1915,
the year fixed for the opening of the
Panama Canal and its celebration at
San Francisco. Considered from the
standpoint OF the greatest good to the
greatest number, and giving regard to
the time within which such road may
be opened, I recommend that portion
Of State road No. Z between Easton,
Kittitas county, and North Bend,
King county, be constructed. The
distance requiring construction is about
thirty miles, and the estimated cost
s350.OOO to $4so,Ooo, depending on
width graded and surfacing adopted.
On all trunk roads the roadway
should be not less than "a feet wide
Ion the branch roads the width could
be reduced but should never be less
than 10 feet. When the roadway is
less than 16 feet wide, turnout should
be built every 500 feet.
! believe that 5 per cent Of all mon