Norwich bulletin., 1914-10-30
OVER 313 MILES OF ROAD BUILT
Hinder Hohav Commissioners Bennett-$ 546s14 Spent During His Administration Believes Highways are Materially Improved-Wants Three and Half Million Appropriation for Next Two Years-System of Repairs Established

foundation Gas. for instance, a sheet asphalt pavemenD, s2.15 per square yard.
 crete foundation, s1.40 per cubic pard, including preparation of the sub grade and shoulders.
 Concrete, from 90 cents to s1.SS per square yard.
 Macadam, from 5s cents in the case of native stone to approximateiy o
 Gravel from 90 cents to 55 cents per square yard.
 Graded road, approximately 10 cents per square yard.
 surfacing (which means the plac- ing of a light trap rock or native stone surface on the top of a graded road), about 20 cents per square yard.
 Brick pavement, approximately $2.95 per square yard.
 Question-What was the name of each contractor you have employed I attach herewith a list of con- tSactors who were employed on state construction September 29th. 1914, to- gether with the amounts of contracts awarded to each. There are some contractors who have done work for contractors who have done work for us who are not at present carrying out work and there are others who bid from time to time to whom no work has been allowed. (This list be- ing length, it is omitted from the copies of the correspondence given to the papers)
 Question--Wflat is the amount of the total appropriation
 The total appropriation to date. not including the receipts from automo- bile licenses, is S10, ,3S4, 900. This cov- CTS the period from July 9th. 1895, to October 1st, 1914.
 Question--How much of the $10, 1884, 900 expended up to date of your let ter have been expended under your direction?
 Taking the subject matter of this letter as being the construction of roads, the amount spent for road construction between February 18th, 1si3 and October 10th, 1914, is $3,- 546sS14.05. This sum, however, in- cludes refunds due from the towns on the state aid proposition and re- funds due from other sources, such as share to be paid by the town in case of the state repairing a town road.
 Question-I1ow much of An appro- priation should you incline to favor for the next fiscal period of two years? In answering this question, I refer you to my letter of March 24, 1914, in which I gave a total appropria- tion for the coming two years re- 'quircd for highway purposes of $3,- 500.000, separated as follows:~=~
 Repairs 10 trunk lines, not includ- ing. automobile fees. $500.000 per year. Renewals and reconstruction of trunk lines. $500.000 per year. State aid roads-extension of ccn4 struction-s500,0 900 per years. Repairs to state aid roads, S150.000 per year.
 Engineering and operation of the department. $100.000 per year. Or a total for each year of $1,- 750,000; for two years of S3,500,000.
 I have seen no reason to change my mind as to this request, feeling that is it far wiser for us to go slowly with the further construction of trunk line highways and put our greatest effort to the reconstruction and keeping in re- pair of those highways already built. Question-What is the general con- dition of the existing highways which were also in existence when you took office. as compared with their condition | then?
 | I think I may safely say, in an. swer to this question, that the gen. | eral condition of the highway sys- | tenn is improved materially since Feb. l ruary, 18th, 1913. We have spent 2 great deal of effort in establishing 2 1 system of repairs on all roads ant have spent a large amount of oul appropriation for this purpose. II many instances the towns have agreed to spend their state aid none. in the entire reconstruction of road.