Norwich bulletin., 1920-01-30
STATE HIGHWAY DEPT. HAS
 FOUGHT SNOW SucCESSEIuI

The success Of the state highway de- partment in keeping the state trunk line highways and the roads which have been constructed with state aid open to travel notwithstanding the heavy falls of snow during the past six weeks is generally recognized end commended by many people The diff ficulty of the work will be appreciated when it is rem membered that there are l.500 miles of trunk lines and a large area of other roads to take care of.
 Clinton c. Nichols, secretary to Highway Commissioner Charles J. Bennett, said Thursday that the suc- cess of the department in keeping the roads in a condition over which they can be travelled this winter is due to the departmental organization which Commissioner Bennett has developed and which is in charge of Leroy Ul- rich, acting under the commissioner. This organization consists of about 500 men, including II supervisors and so foremen, the latter being increa sed at times by about 20 as the Iocal. needs of towns require. The state is divided into Il maintencane districts, each district being in charge uf 9 super visor.
 Secretary Nichols said the fidelity of the men and their ambition to do their work to the satisfaction of the com missioner was deserving of the highest praise. The men in the different dis tJfcts are always ready to start work after snowfall and there was abso- lutely no time lost in beginning op- eratton. The entire working organiza tion is equipped with 65 snowplows attached to motor trucks and a supply of shovels. It qI7ite frequently rappene that owing to drifts it is not feasible 1a5 use shovelS. The men. sad Mir. Mich ols. work early and late and they take a pride in their work. They will start to, work if necessary at 2 o'clock in thr morping and continue working urtf they have made the roads passahle and safe for travelling. It was neces- sary at times, continued SecretarJ Nichols. that the men go over tht i roads the second time with thei, equipment to remove musIly snow ] that impeded traffic.
 1 Secretary Nichols said the commits -sioner had received q number Of let. i ters commenting the highway depart ment for its successful work. Copie! l of one of these letters have been sen i to the supervisors to show them tha 1 the work for the public is appreciated | The letter reads:
 ''The splendidly cleared from snow condition of our state highway (ant | promptly cleared) never fails to excit, my admiration. It's fine work and { fine organization back of it.''
 In another letter which was sent tn, commissioner by a prominent restden of Waterbury the writer says:
 1 "On my return to Connecticut h, auto was so proud of our state tha 1 feel like passing it along to you. An 1 afraid that we have become so accus l toned to being taken care of in tn
 matter of roads that we do not full, appreciate it." etc.
 Commissioner Bennett recently wen | in his automobile from Hartford |, 1 New London and found the highway
 for the entire distance open to trave
 and in a condition that made travein; easy and safe.
 The greatest difficulty this year fl i l1eeping highwavs open has been ex perienced in Litchf1eld arfd Tollan4 counties. Particularly in Tollan4 1 county the drifts have been heavy an,
 the men have been obligeflf to use ttlei
 shoXels in order to get through then In many places the drifts have beeI
 four and five feet deen. But thes l co1ditionsA merely added to the diff
 cllIty. It did not prevent the succes | of the highwav departments policy t 1 keep the hfl1wavs open to travel, r,
 matter what the condition of tn
 weather may Sbe.
 The towns in the state rely on th l hthwav department to open up til 1 town highways and the department |
 always ready to l1elp them. The town 1 pay one quarter of the exnense. The, 1 are charged at this rate for the ex
 pense incurred bv the state in nrakin: 1 repairs on highways. Alter ton
 given to the icy condition Of the hill
 so that travelling may not be inter 1 rupted or made less safe than on tn
 level ronlFs. The ice is .sanded or GOV
 erede witl1 crushed stone. Tn addition
 to this the 1enartment is keeping tn
 waterways and culverts open. so as t
 prevent freshets when a thaw sets ir