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State pays 50 per cent of the cost of such improve- 

 ment, the county 35 per cent and the town or village 

 the remainder. The roads that receive this improve- 

 ment are laid out in state, county and town systems, 

 the first heing designed as trunk highways for 

 through travel, the second division constitute the 

 main local highwaj's, while the third comprises the 

 local highways of secondary importance. The State 

 has authorized a hond issue of one hundred million 

 dollars to pay its portion of the cost of this improve- 

 ment and tlie expenditure of the second half of the 

 appropriation is well progressed. The construction 

 is accomplished in sections from year to year by 

 designation of the local authorities, the county boards 

 of supervisors, in conference with the state highway 

 department, the apportionment being divided in pro- 

 portion to the total mileage of highway. A resi- 

 dent highway engineer is maintained in each county 

 to supervise and inspect the construction which is 

 done under contract. The local maintenance of 

 country roads is under the money rather than the old 

 service system which latter method has proved very 

 inefficient. 



The automobile has been a large factor in promot- 

 ing the improvement of highways in New York, as in 

 all other parts of the country. It is having a large 

 influence on the rural community because of the en- 

 larged range of travel it confers on its owner. The 

 rural population is rapidly making use of the auto- 

 mobile as a means of freight transport, as well as 

 for personal travel and trade. The automobile may 



