The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-01-19


 highway department.
 Tn connection with the construc- tion of bridges on trunk line high ways, the writer is of the opinion that bridges built by the state high l way department should be of a per- | manent character and of concrete or masonry wherever possible. The first
 cost of such bridges is high, but the low cost of maintenance on the other hand, makes it advisab ble to place such structures. It is evident that if the bridges are designed to carry extremely heavy loads, the first cost will be still higher, bl < the ultimate result will be good.
 Of course there is limit to the length of concrete and masonry bridges beyond which it is necessary to construct steel bridges. When such bridges are constructed, it is the duty of the highway department to see that they are kept in good con- dition by periodic inspection of paint and other parts of the bridges which are subject to, deterioration.
 In addition to the bridges needing reconstruction as mentioned above, there will be a certain amount of money necessary for the maintenance of other bridges not yet reconstruct ed. It is estimapted that the annual charge for this purpose will be $25,- 900, making the total appropriation for the next fiscal term $50,000, and a request for this amount has been made of the state board of finance and included in the highway depart ment's budget. It may be consider ed that the annual cost of $25, 1000 is quite high for the maintenance of 191 bridges, but it must be remem- bered that in this total number of bridges there are many of compara- lively long span, which need consid- erable repairs owing to lack of atten- tion in the past. At the same time these bridges are not in such a con- dition that they need immediate re- construction. Consequently, while it may be possible that some of this $25,00O may not be spent on bridge maintenance, it will still be available under the act for the construction of other bridges than those listed above and should safely cover an indeter- ninate amount of money.
 "The above request Nor mainte- nance funds does not hclude any money for the maintenance of the Saybrook-Lyme toll bridge nor for the Haddam-East Haddam toll bridge. These bridges were turned over to the state highway depaSt- ment under Chapter 268 of the Pub lie Acts of 1915, which provides that all expense of maintenance repairs and operation of said bridges shall be paid by the comptroller on vouchers of the highway commissioner and no specific appropriation was made for this purpose. It is the custom of the highway department to collect the tolls on these bridges and turn the money over to the state treasurer. The. money for the purpose of paying the. cost of maintenance on these bridges is secured from funds in the hands of the state treasurer. and is made the subject of deficiency ap- propriation at the tconvening of the 
 ''The highway commissioner rec onfends. that these bridges be listed as trunk line bridges as noted above and that a specific additional appro- priation be, requested of the Legisla- ture for the purpose of maintaining these bridges and that the amounts received from tolls be turned over to the state treasurer in the same manner as receipts from other sources.
 There has been no request for an for this purpose from the Legislature and in the event of it's recommendation being adopted, l an. additional appropriation of $2O,- 900 a year should be made for such toll bridge maintenance under the Trunk Line Bridge appropriation.
 'If this suggestion is carried out ! it will place all bridges on the state l