New Britain herald., 1927-07-02

Iareea Branch Of oovesnmns
The opening OF the highway de-
partment's 31st year finds 1t the
largest single branch Of the state
government. It has otaces In every
county and employees located in ~.
cry township in the state. 1t b looked
upoa nationally - one OF the most
efficient highway departments In the
country.
No better critsrion Of department..
al efficiency Is found than IN the
method Of awarding contracts In the
Connecticut highway department.
This contract system il complete In
every detail. provides TOR all contiu-
sencies. and leaves no loopholes. The
exact amounts OF each kind Of ma.
terial required are determined by the
department. before bids arc called
for and the specifications Are drawn
from this data. Tho contractor u
compelled to conform to every detail
and his work IL accurately checked
after his job 10 finisheA BY means
OF engineering instruments which
show the exact amount OF each ma
terial he has used. He is paid for
the exact amount Of materials used
if it be less than the specifications
call for, and II he has used more
than required amount he is paid only
the amount OF his bid.
Cement and various other mater
ials are furnished to the contractor
BY the department because the de-
partment buying in large lots, can
secure, better prices and - better
grade OF cement than the individual
contractor. Cement IL carefully put
through 4 rigorous series OF tests to
Insure maximum quality befors 1t is
purchased.
The ability Of the Connecticut de-
partment to clear the entire high
way system within = few hours after
a heavy snowfall hAs brought forth
much praise in recent years. The
snow removal system Of the depart
ment begins to function automatic
ally when the snow reaches Z depth
OF three inches. Foremen in charge
Of the 1SS pillow equipped trucks be-
gin work when the snow reaches that
depth and continue to work along
their assigned section OF highway un-
til the snow has been pushed COM
pletely of the highway and traffic
paths are opened in both directions.
Strengthening out Curves
Since Commissioner Macdonald
has been In office, one OF the chief
aims OF the department has been to
eliminate bal curves and grades
from tho highway system. Much
has been made in this d.
rection and every road that Is under
today follows q much
straighter path than ever before.
Sharp curves and steep grades have
been completely eliminated on many
Of the highways, thus improving the
sight-line OF motor vehicle drivers
and tending to decrease accidents.
The elimination OF curves and gardes
Is also making possible greater
average speed Of travel without In
creasing the accident hazard.
Another Of Commissioner Macdon-
AIDS ideals Is the widening Of high
ways to meet the needs Of the ever
number Of motor vehicles.
This ideal has been carried out on
the Boston Post Road between New
Haven and the New York state line
where the width OF the road has
been doubled, permitting four lanes
Of traffic to pass. With motor We
hicle registration OF a half million
in Connecticut by 1880
it will be necessary in the immediate
future, the commissioner believes. to |
increase the width Of practically all
Of the main arteries OF traffic in the
state.
During the 50 years which have
passed since its establishment, there |
has been added to the work Of the |
highway department construction
and maintenance Of all bridges
which span water. and the operation
CT Two lSTTloS AL LILO SohhSNNASNS
River. The work Of highway con-
supplemented by the care
of bridges and operation Of ferries,
has required an aggregate appropri-
alton OF $4o.0s0.167.44. while the to-
tai expenditures Of the department
during its history have been $S2.b47.- I
S10.67, the balance coming from mo-
Tor vehicle fees and fines, gasoline
tax, and refunds from towns under
statutory provisions. /
Although the aggregate mileage OF
the state highway system at this
time IL 1852 miles. 72s miles OF
his total have been reconstructed
since they were originally built. MAX
ing the total pavement laid by the
department in the course OF It's ex-
istence 1851 miles.
HONESTY AT NORTHWESTERN
Evanston, Ill.-The campus hon