Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1919-06-26
Road Work Cost Scars.
States New Highways Now
Come TO $4,000 A Mile.

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If Maryland proposes to continue its
road building program it must face the
prospect of paying great deal more for
roads than it ever paid before. 1t can
congratulate itself that it embarked on
its highways enterprise when it did, and
secured for the taxpayers the benefit OF
the low prices for construction that pre-
vailed when the State roads were built.
When roads were built during the
Crothers' administration at cost of
Sc, 900 to $40, 900 mile, there was talk
of wild extravaganza. People were not
altogether satisfied when it was shown
there had heen no extravaganza but con-
siderable economy, and that good roads
cost money.
Now the roads the State is building are
costing in the neighborhood of $50, 900 a
mile, three times as much as they cost
in the early days and twice az much as
they cost Immediately preceding the
breaking out of the war in Europe. In
1914 the State was paying between $l4,-
O00 and SIS, 900 mile for concrete roads.
1t now has under contract fraction
over 40 miles of road in various parts of
the State; which contracts total up ex-
actly 81, 1879, 1O3, or just shade under
$50, 900 mile These roads are all being
built of concrete, most of them are Is
feet wide, although one is only IA,
couple are l6 feet and couple more II
feet.
And at that, the roads are being built
economically, and at less costs than other
States that are building similar types of
roads are paying. Pennsylvania, for in
stance, which is building road that is a
little wider than the Maryland roads, be-
ing 18 feet wide, is paying on the average
$4,000 a mile for them. Here awards
thus far in 1919, for "a miles of that road,
average almost exactly that figure.
Frank H. Zouck, chairman of the COM
mission, that the average cost for main
tanning the roads for 1918 amounted to
approximately 81, 900 mile, while in the
low years of 1912, 1918 and 1914 it amount
an increase of about $50 per cent. Due to
the fact that the cost of labor has in
creased from 81. so to SO and 3d. day;
that stone at the quarry has increas ed in
and that in many cases freight rates have
about doubled.
There is also a greater strain and a
greater war on the roads than they have
mobile traffic has increased more than
1000 per cent and the automobile truck
traffic has increased from virtually moth
ing to 10, 900 trucks that are using the
roads, Mr.. Zouck says that despite the
increased cost of maintenance the traffic
using the roads is being carried at less
cost per mile to the State than in the
past.
Mr.. Zouck also says Maryland was the
only State in the Union which had it's
roads in first. class condition on January
/, 1919, and this in spite of the fact that
Maryland carried more traffic per mile
over its State roads than any other State
in the Union, due to the great dumber
of Government activities at Washington,
Annapolis, Baltimore, Aberdeen and
Camps Holabird and Meade. For this
condition he gives the credit to the Or
ganization in the field. for, notwithstand-
ing the commissions field forces were
depleted by the volunteering of the men
and tie draft, he says those who remain
ed did double duty and accomplished what
was thought to be an impossibility, by
taking care of the maintenance of the
entire system.