Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-09-10
COMMUNITIES PREVENT
PLANS FOR GOOD ROADS
Chief Engineer Chler. of Pennsyl.
Hania, Writes OF Work Of Keystone
State Road Department.
LEGISLATURE MAKES BLUNDER
Saddles Heavy Burden on State by
Placing Community Roads Under
State Car-Main Thoroughfares
Should Be Connected.

William d. Uhlcr, chief engineer Of
the Pennsylvania state Highway De-
partment. writes OF the work OF that
department as follows
When the Pennsylvania state High.
way Department was reorganized in
ALL, the origin plan was to lay out
State hishwH system which would
connect the county seats by the most
Travelled. direct roads. This intention
was partly frustrated by the desire
of some communities to have Il great
or part OF their local roads Incorporate
ed in the state system. The net re-
suit was that $500 miles were taken
over by the Commonwealth. far too
great a mileage Then the Legislature
Of 1919 added l.400 miles TO the Sys-
tenn. so. that out OF 1850 miles of road
in the State 10000 miles fall to tho
State 10 maintain and reconstruct.
Improve Main Ronds Fret.
1t would have been far better for
Pennsylvania TO have adopted a sys-
ten of main lines directly connecting
che county seats and following the
main courses OF travel east and west.
north and south. This would have
meant not more than $500 miles OF
state highways and the system could
be maintained with the revenues at ths
disposal OF the state Highway Depart.
ment. In assuming responsibility for
10000 miles of road. OF which only a
small percentage was improved, tho
State shouldercd a burden too great
for 1t to carry properly.
During 1915 the department spent
about s4,5oo.0Oo in maintaining this
mileage and during 1916 It will spend
about 100000. making a total OF
$1,5oo,o0o spent on the roads in two
years. with nothing OF any great mo-
ment In the way of permanent improve
ment TO show for II. Had 1t been pos
sible to spend this s7,5oo.ooo in per-
manent construction. from 500 to coo
miles OF highways could have been inn
proved during 1915 and 1916 which.
added to the 1,SS0 miles already i'm
proved. would have furnished a salts.
factory nucleus for the permanent
highway system OF the State.
Abandoned Roads Revived.
The problems OF the Pennsylvania
state Highway Department have been
greatly complicated by the character
of many of the roads unloaded upon
the State. In number of cases roads
which have been neglected for years or
even abandoned were hcqucathed TO IT.
For example. fvc state roads lead north
from one OF the main east-and-wcs Il
highways within a distance of twenty
miles. Tho first consists OF old lun-
ber trails and an abandoned narrow
gauge grade five feet wide. The sec
ond was once an important road but
most OF the right-of- way has long been
occupied by railroad and the grading
for new road would cost at least
$4,000 mile. The third road was
abandoned generation ago and is COW
cred with underbrush. The fourth Is
narrow. winding. steep and dangerous
Tho Attn Is the only ono that can he
put in passahlc condition ut rca-
sonablc expense
Another problem which causes us
great concern is the maintenance OF
bridges on State highway routes The
law is interpreted to provide that all
county built bridges on these routes
are to be maintained by the county au-
thorities. and all bridges originally
built or maintained by and at the OK
pense OF townships are to he taken
over by the state. In many instances
the county authorities neglect the
maintenance of the bridges and the
State Is powcrlcss TO compel them 10
make the necessary repairs The
travelling public. not Knowing this
fact. naturally blamcs the department
for such conditions. Iii a number Of
cases the department has notified coun-
" authorities OF the dangerous condi-
ton OF certain bridges, but has been
met either with a refusal 10 make the
repairs or has received no reply what
Local Needs Always Considered.
Before making any decision AS to