Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1914-01-30

/ systems have already been built
much more money IL spent for roat
maintenance than for construction
n costs more than $500 mile pei
year 10 keep the Masachusetts state
roads IN repair. according to tho
highway commissioners. Half a mil
lion dollars was spent IN 1912 for
maintenance IN the BAY state Of
which 100000 was paid out OF the
automobile fund. The average cost
Of maintenance and repair IN the
year 10 keep the Massachusetts state
Rhode Island. New York. and New
Jersey for the eight years from 1905
20 1912 inclusive was given as 1908
"a mile per year. The motor vehicle
r. generally blamed FOR the rapid des-
truction OF the roads and the fees Of
registration and for drivers licenses
have been Increased repeatedly 10
raise money to be applied 20 road re-
pairs
How States Raise Funds.
New York state derives a road fund
Of ti.2s5.00O a year from the 10000
motor vehicles Massachusetts, about
$3.50 900 year. Pennsylvania nearly
100000 New Jersey 100000 Ohio
1900, 900. and other states CORES
ponding amounts according to the
number Of registratiohs and the size
Of the individual fees There are APP
proxlmately 100000 motor vehicles
registered IN All the states OF the /
Union which. at an average Of si0l
each In registration ana license fees
fines etc. represent about $4,000 600 /
paid ny the owners Of automobiles
yearly to repair the damage they do
to the roads Thoy are the only
kinds ~ vehicles that pay special
road tax.
However. leading state highway
commissioners assert that the sharp
calks u horses shoes and narrow
iron tires on heaviis loaded wagons
are highly destructive to roads
Chairman Sohier. Of the Massachus-
etts commission. tolls OF particular
Instances In which roads that stood
up we'll under the traffic OF /. zoe
automobiles day Were cut TO pieces
"a a few months By wagons hauling
'oal and ice and that. after the
wagons were replaced by motor q
rucka were soon rolled down again
nto god condition
Regarding destructive agencies. the g
hicf engineer OF the Maryland state ID
TOAD Commission makos those OBJ "
ervatlons; r.
"a combination Of motor and ami
nal traffic seems 70 create the most
ifiicutles IA the way OF proper des-
IN OF selection OF good road and t.
squire usually the largest expense co.
~ maintenance However. It is this
,mbined traffic that IN the far larger -
umber Of eases must be expected 80
nd Tor which a solution viii be- re- u
uired" III
Whether or not motor vehicles are =,
ore injurious 10 roads than other
nds OF tranic they must bo reckon ~.
with. for. while various state leg .,
llturcs have passed laws limiting
e Weights and speed Of motor G
ucks. Il is unlikely that any pro
easiye American state VIII attempt
, long 10 resist the development; OF
'tor trucking to tbs present made
axe state of the roads and ancient we
dges col
Almost two thirds of an the traffic J."
AN the state roads Of Massachus- p''
s. and Connecticut al the present me
be- is motor driven. This has been SUI
ertained by the state highway -
amiasiona by elaborate checking OF
passing vehicles and Is authenic n
.s "a matter OF pure economy. then III
s essential to build roads that win III
most durable under the mixed III
or vehicle and horse traffic This III
'cipic has beon well stated by tho III
Isachuseyts Road Commissioners iii
follows III
iho road must he So designed III
& and maintained that 1t shall be iii
All times ia proper condition 10 Ill
me traHc TO which Il may be III