The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-08
PROGRESS MADE IN
ROAD IMPROVEMENT
Practically Every State Of the
Tnion Has Advanced
Highway Work.
NO LETUP IN THE WORK
State, Counties and Townships
Unite in Building and Up
keep Of Roads.

Throughout many States rapid progress
IN the building and maintaining OF good
roads has been accomplished during the
last year aud some Information obtained
from the reports OF n number of state
highway engineers is given below.
In the state Of Alabama. previous TO
1913. according to the report Of State
Highways Engineer w. S. Keller. 4.b67
miles Of improved highways were built.
During the year 1918 74o miles OF work
was done on roads. bringing the total
mileage OF improved roads. together with
that previously constructed. to 5,307 miles.
In Arizona. for the year lsi3-1Sl4. there
Is available from the regular road funds
3bs472i In several counties Throughout;
this State the road funds we're available
before the engineering department was
ready TO proceed with the work. For
the fiscal year 19l2-l9l3 the amount OF
the various funds was s33j.95l In add
ton to the fund raised for the present
year several counties have authorized bond
issues amounting to more than S2.6oO,OOO.
Special attention is given TO the state
highways between the important cities
within and outside the State.
Work on the State highway system In
California was retarded early In the sea-
son OF 1919 by the uncertainty OF financial
this was the large amount OF money
needed In the preparations OF the Panama
Pacific Exposition. However. BY August
about 243 miles OF road was under con-
struction, according to the report OF state
Highways Engineer A. b. Fletcher. For
1914 there Is available the balance OF
the entire $4,000. 900 bond issue. az the
law does not specify a given amount for
each year. The only Limitation 10 the
amount Of construction which can be eco
nomicaily carried on and the amount Of
bonds that can be sold
In Colorado, the secretary OF the Colo
RADIO Highway Commission reported that
in 1918 a total of 1850 miles OF road were
built graded. shaped and drained at
cost OF 1891. 900 In addition to this there
was spent by the counties on county roads.
including all other than State roads.
81, 004. 900.
Road improvements In the State Of
Georgia are In the hands OF county
authorities. who obtain the services Of the
convicts of the State. 1t Is said that
Georgia maintains force Of approx
mately 5000 convicts at work on the
highways. and occasionally the State De-
partment OF Geology publishes bulletin
on the subject Of highways. Neither the
chairman OF the Prison Commission nor
the State Geologist Ii authorised by law
- accumulate data as to the mileage or
character or cost of the roads constructed
by convicts or other labor in the State
Of Georgia.
Although the figures for 1918 on the COS;
Of road improvements in the State Of
Montana are not yet ready for compilation
u In stated that In 1912 the counties in
the State expended for highways
N.05s.3Ao and for bridges s47%.4Ss.
There are approximately 5000 miiss Of
roads In the state which have been graded
and shaped and to some extent surfaced.
The last Legislature made no appropria-
ton for road purposes during 1914. How
ever, the funds levied by the various
counties for highways will amount to
about So. 100000 There will be $4,000 to
$4,000 obtained from rentals OF forest re-
serves and applied to road purposes BY
the United States Forestry Service in the
counties from which the funds are de-
rived.
According TO the report OF State High
way Commissioner James Wilson Of Della.
ware. previous TO 1919 New Castle county
had a total of 1884 miles OF improved
highways. 13s.47 OF which were macadam
During 1918 twelve miles OF macadam
were constructed at cost OF approxi-
mately 100000. and 1I.32 miles Of toll
turnpikes were purchased AT cost Of
$751; 900.
At the beginning OF 1918 Illinois vas
reported to have 80 miles OF bituminous
highways, ITO miles of macadam and
several miles Of concrete. During 1918
there was constructed 40 miles OF mac
adam and So miles OF concrete. Ap-
proximateiy 100000 was expended for
bridges and culverts. The estimated
amount to he raised by counties and
towns during 1914 for State road. local
rad and bridge purposes Is placed at
$4,000, 900.
The repor, OF C. b. Hunt. Engineer Of
Highways for the District OF Columbia,
shows that during 1913 S2o miles Of
roads were built OF various materials
totalling q cost Of $2ls.50O. This expendi-
ture includes the cost OF curb gutter grad
Ing and the renewal of old materials
For bridges and culverts f43.&s3 was ex-
pended.
The total amount expended for roads.
bsfdges and culverts In Iowa during 1918
was approximately Ss.00O.0 900. The esti-
mated amount to be collected by local
taxation from counties and townships DUR
ing 1914 ia 100000 for roads and
100000 for bridges.
According to State Highways Commits
aoner Robert C. Terrell Of Kentucky
there Is in that State 1886 miles OF
macadam. gravel and bituminous roads
exclusive Of what was constructed In 1913,
which Is yet to be reported. Approx
mateiy 100000 will be raised by
counties and townships for highway work
In 1914.
The total expenditure for State aid
roads in Louisiana to December 81, 1918.
was S227.571.60 The State appropriation
for State aid In 1912 was $4,000.
d. ID. Price. State Engineer Of Nebraska,
asserts that that State has charge OF
no road work except that Of State aid
bridges. The State leyies one-hfth ~ \
mill on all taxable property for this pur-
pose. In 1913 this amounted to nearly
$4,000 and will be approximately the