The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-09-25

tlons made for the current year by
other states. Following Is the latest
available data: Iowa, $3.50,
900; Maryland. sa7OO.OOO;' Michigan
s4,isS,972; Minnesota, Sb,672,254;
New York. $4,000 300; Illinois, $780,
900; Maine. slbiO,OOO; Massaehu
setta, S2,447,3i5; Mississippi, Sl,72O,'
600; North Carolina. nearly Sb,00O,'
900; North DgkotA s2.s66.OOo; Ore
gon. SS,2ss,O0O Pennsylvania, S3,50O,-
900; South Carolina, Sl.OOO.O .OO0 Vlr-
ginia, about f$2,OOO0OO; West vir'
ginia, s2.2Ss,557. and Wisconsin,
Sl,2S0OoO. SCompRred with other
states, ohioB appropriation OF $500
900 Is neither extraordinary nor ont
OF proportiOn.) Needless to say, all Of
these states, together with California,
Alabama Arizona. Colorado. Della.
ware, Idaho. Kentucky. New Jersey.
New Mexico and others, have long
ago discarded the so-called county"
plan IN favor OF the state" plan, and
are all prosecuting the improvement
OF their more important roads
through a state OF centralized bureau.
or an the progressive states of the
Union West Virginia was the only
one to go back TO the antiquated
county plan, after II had once adopted
the state plan, and after that state
had experimental at great cost for a
few months, II again returned to the
state plan.
Ohio Under state Plan.
Examination of the records on file
In the Office Of the state highway com
missioner discloses the following:
Since Jan. I. 1914, the state high
way department has contracted for,
or assumed the care Of, in behalf OF
the various counties, about 1000 miles
OF Improvement. OF this amount II will
actually complete, before the close
OF the year, approximately 900 miles.
Every dollars worth OF this work was
offered for sale under public, open
and competitive bidding and, with two
or three exceptions, the contracts
were awarded to the lowest bidder,
the exceptions being made upon the
objection OF county commissioners, or
for other good and sufficient cause
which led the department to believe
that the low bidder could not satisfac-
torily perform the conditions Of the
contract. On Aug. 4 Of this year the
state opened bids on $2,GOO,000 worth
of work; these bids affected the roads
in some fifty-seven counties and con-
templated the systematic improve
ment of ninety-eight sections of inter
county highways, each designed and
so located as to form a part of a COM
prehensive scheme or plan to improve
the roads of the state as a whole;
each link In a great chain Of highways
laid out to serve the people Of the
whole state, instead of a part Of the
state.
That the commissioners of the vari-
GUS counties are in full accord with
the present plan is attested by the
fact that all of the counties but one
have applied for state aid, and are CO.
operating with the state highway
commissioner in the selection and To-
cation of the roads to be improved.
The state highway commissioner
might properly be designated as the
big Brother" Of the county commits
sionersS in that his work in no wise
encroaches upon their field Of endeav-
or, since it must be remembered that
the state department is concerned
only with the improvement Of the
more important or intercounty roads
of the state-less than II per cent of
the whole. Further, it should not be
forgotten that all intercounty con- |
tracts let by the state, except in very |
few instances where the state defrays |
the entire cost, must be approved by |
the county commissioners, and they |
have voice in the selection of the ma
terial and sole control over the selec-
ton Of the particular route to be i'm |
proved. In passing it is worthy of |
mention that as a direct result of |
cooperation every dollar Of |
the money appropriated for use this
year will be required to cover the pay.
ment Of contracts entered into, or now
under contemplation.
Can't Have Duplication.
But there are other accomplish
ments of the present highway depart
ment which are deserving Of special
mention. Among them may be EMU
merated the establishment of test
ing bureau, which is maintained at the
Ohio State university, and which has
been brought up to a high degree Of
the organization of com,
Dletely equipped construction, main
Lenance and repair, and bridge bu-
reaus; the establishment of inventory
and property check systems; the
building of state experimental
road" as the result of which
county commissioners and others
Interested in road construction
nay obtain first hand data in
relation to various types of road
materials; the organi-
,ation of an educational bureau,
after the lines adopted by
he federal Office Of good roads at
and which seeks to i'll
Itruct road building officials OF the
'tate and counties as to the best
Of practical and economical
Dad building. In connection with the
educational work of the state and fed
raj highway departments, it has been
laid by the United States director of
,ublic roads, Hon. Logan Waller Page,
appointed by a Republican president
the monies available for highway i'm |