The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-01-19
COMMISSIONER OF HIGHWAYS
 FAv0RS CHANCE
Would Eliminate Grade Crossing and Get Fed
 eral Aid on Roads.

y active in road building and road re- pairing and a plea for more co-oper- ation on the part of the public with more constructive and less destruc- tive criticism are two of the features of the biennial report on the state highway Commissioner Charles J. Bennett. The report covers the two years ended September 30, 1916. It is divided into three general heads construction of highways, including the construction of trunk line bridges, added by the Legislature of 1915; re- pairs of highways, and accounting and records.
 Both the total and net expenditures show a decrease in the year just end- ed from those of the preceding. In 1914-15 the total was $2,236,36O.7 with a refund from towns, counties railroad and railway companies and other sources of $364, 4,229.54, netting an expenditure of $1,S71, ,13116, while the total for 1915-16' is s1,95O,- 947.s3, which, subtracting a refund of s1e7,142.39, leaves a net expendi- ture of $1.753,8
 Road Construction.
 The commissioner points out that during the two years the work of road construction has been restrict ed because of the failure on the Leg islature to make appropriations therefor, and that, consequently, what has been done has been accom- plished out of funds advanced by towns under Chapter 10 of the pub lie acts of 1913, which provides that towns may Abuild roads in anticipa- tion of their future state allotmepts. The expense here has totaled $68,- 389.28, part of which has been re- funded. A total of 1869 miles of roads has been built, making the total of highways in the state 1,425.77 miles. The work of the inmates of the Connecticut State Reformatory is commended as being excellent and economical and it is said that ''the men behaved themselves fully as we'll as did ordinary laborers and the re- suits were satisfactory" hoff. 5na. DHa-
 Bridges.
 The department has expended, or contracted for the construction of bridges approximately $250,000 se- cured from state appropriation funds, which, added to refunds made by the towns or. counties, brings the gross to approximately $53O,000. The most important bridges are the con- crete and steel bridge over the Sau- gatuck river at Westport and the concrete bridge over the, Housatonic river between Derby and Huntington. ''To these large pieces of york; coin tinues the report, should be added the replacing of the poorest existing bridges, which has been undertaken throughout the~s state. consisting prin- cipally of the replacement of the old Satan's Kingdom bridge over the Pennington river in the town of New Hartford, the replacement of the old wooden bridge over the Pennington river at Windsor and the replac- ment of an old timber structure in the town by Granby."
 Investigations have been made of all bridges in the state and recom- mendations as to the future policy regarding them will be included in the special report which will be pre- sented to the Legislature. Many bridges some of which were in a de- plorable condition, have been re- paired and there is only one instance where bridge actually failed under traffic. The new bridges are design ed to carry heavy loads and should be adequate for any possible vehicle which may pass over them. A total of 18 bridges have been construct ed or contracted for. many of which show remarkable features of improvement.
 Maintenance and Repair.
 The cost of maintenance and re- pair of roads has mounted steadily for three years, but it is shown that the increase in the cost of replace ments has results in the reduction of straight maintenance. The report recommends that this policy of inn proving existing highways by com structing hard surfaces should be continued for two reasons, one the general improvement of the high way surfaces and the other that the annual maintenance charge mile may eventually be reduced. The cost in 1913-1914 was s785,099.34. In .1914-1915 it was sS79,936.44 and. in 1915-1916 it was $ss1. 1.6os.73.
 The report continues: "In connec- tion with the above, when it is known that the cost of labor and material has been extremely high during the past year, the result of the policy of replacing as much mileage as pos sible with permanent pavement has resulted in a material reduction in the cost of straight maintenance, which has been considered as that portion of the departments expendi- lures which gives results only tenn porarily, that is, the expenditure has to be renewed every year."
 The cost for state and roads has increased from $119,67s.73 in 1913- 1914 to $165,741.54 in 1914-1916 and to $178,765.68 in 1915-1916, but these totals show an annual in- that the repair of state aid roads has been done less thoroughly in the past than the repairs of trunk lines be- cause the funds available have been smaller and there is difficulty in making adequate or extensive repairs when the towns are required to con. tribute"
 Concrete Advised.
 It is considered advisable to re- place the old macadam, or gravel roads, on many through trunk lines with roads of concrete or having a concrete base. Experience shows that it is necessary to provide much heavier. foundations for pavements on the main travelled roads on ac-