THE CUBA REVIEW 



17 



Arroyo Arenas Bridge. 



PROPOSED PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAY 

 IMPROVEMENTS 



The Department of Public Works spends yearly an average sum of about $8,000,000 in new- 

 works, not including the expenses of administration in the general budget. Large expenditures 

 were made by the Bureau of Water Supply, Sewers and Municipal Engineering from 1911 to 

 1914 in carrying out the Havana sewer and paving contract, an undertaking that was finished 

 in 1915. This work, with the important additions authorized subsequent to letting the contract, 

 cost about .$17,000,000. 



A great many works have been planned for the near future by the Bureau of Highways 

 and will be begun when funds are authorized by Congress. Among them the most important 

 is a general plan of highways connecting all the important cities in Cuba and formed mainly 

 by three highways, one along the central part of the island, one connecting cities on the north 

 coast, and the other along the south coast. As a great many of these cities are already con- 

 nected, only sections of the highways will have to be built in order to complete the system. 

 The plans provide for the connection of the three main highways by roads running across the 

 island, and in many cases such connections have already been made. 



The length of the highways to be built to complete this general plan is about 3,700 kilo- 

 meters (2,300 miles), and the work will cost about $44,000,000. 



The work of the important Bureau of Water Supply, Sewers, and Municipal Engineering 

 will be increased more and more every year. Large appropriations have been asked from Con- 

 gress in order to complete and extend the work on sewers and pavements in Havana to new 

 sections of the city, to complete and enlarge the aqueducts of Santiago, Pinar del Rio and 

 Camaguey, and for many other public improvements. The necessary appropriations for carry- 

 ing on these works have been made regularly, and it is expected that they will be concluded in 

 due course. 



