New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-08

highways the large expense involved in their proper
care nattention and indifference on the part OF te
people, possibly from a defective system OF hlSn
way laws Whatever may be the real cause IL can
not be denied that our highways are deter9ratlng'
and that some adequate remedy should be devised
II is apparent that they not constructed with any
special skiIl, little or no engineering iaienI
and drainage being largely oyerIoohsd !,
aSS Sc eerm,v some at the or p oe
his road taxes operates badly. and being rclc u
old times, might be essentially modified with 6enrI
fetal results. There seems to be lack OF 0lh,al
responsibility and competent supervision. Neltnef
'eectnd for their Special 6tHes for me dlscharge If
the important duties involved in the proper con
struction of suitable highways in their care and
maintenance. In some Of the Western states these
duties devolve upon a county civil engineer who hi-
the benefit Of the whole county freed from local IN
When highways are once properly built the m.
expensivenesS Of their proper maintenance Is not
generally understood but TIE DrlnGiSal Gmeaty N
constIuction Country highways running through
town should not be regarded principally Tor me
benefit OF that town. That may be tnoIr p finaF
object but they serve broader and more cohpF~
hcnsive purpose in afOrding means OF gOnn s
ton for all the people. and shoah be viewed a.
mart of a great general system The burdens IMPOSE
upon the taxpayers in the country are coho'u'u - ~
cXpected that they win manifest an unusual inteT7@
or large degree Of PIde IN 'ne an cYtonf bcyond
the actual needs Of the immediate nciglDorihgno.
But tie required improvement OF our hEnGa',
spirit nor should local interests alone be consulted
The interests Of the whole state are lnVoEcu, LII,
aspect of the question naturally presents me inquiry
whether the state itself should not take me cia ~
the matter Of pressing and desirable an ihp'">"
ment. ~. Az. -,a,o sbould mr.,
ceed to construct through every CONN., ,~9 5r
ways, running in different directions ah' s,'e',,ns
each other in about the centre OF me s2ih'y -,,n
roads to form part OF , ooIp'V ',i,l ,sn'
u adjoining counties. and 10 be known cNcr' mere -
STATE roads, constructed, cared for and mainainN AZ
the expense Of the state at large under IN. direction
and supervision Of the state Engineer ana surveyor
other competent authority to De ,!-iHl'l' ln,s
system. when once completed Woad ciaDe Il peIr.
to start from NewlOrk city. Albany or any "ihrt
point foot or in carriage. and visit rNefy county
IN the state without once faNh1 W.. ,,,'' I -
insurng comfort. convenience. pleasure ana pea,
These road, should be macadamized or c'h,ru,led OF
crushed stone or other Su,taD" mil''lll, VIZ pI"p
cuvcrt,. good bridges, adequate drainage. wairHht
with Tic best country roads ln other c"unlrc,' ana
existing highway, could le utiAled Tor ms pnrp' -
These state roads would not only prove of great
convenience and vast advanta," 10 the whole con.
munity but they would serve object lessons %
the local authoritie- the effect of which would he'c
sarily tend to improve the ordinary town hI.h"dfs
and prove of ineStimable benefit
1t IS not believed that ne people oil me c.... 81
the state would object TO h, improvement, bNt tal
the contrary. they would hail il with pleasure ''
during the summer month, they mock ~ me '2.tF
in large numbers and deeply interested on All mat
concerns the material progres~. development am pros
perity Of the rural district.
In the early history of the state it the custom
to construct important public hlghWaY. 2, General
tain many acts mahine llcl4l ap2ropraiign- Tor .fh
LII tho u D-, si, ,ra. ,ir,r, ip1od
on fre. canal. are maintained Al An cNpcn,a II
over 100000 Annually and me NtaiG ~ Vafiou'
p'rl"lH ]" ~ n>tVF tf' ''i'' any 90" ..,,.
-Vd'uo1 Oh ''rltil idhI"i9. '1'ii' .'-.'' 49,,
have been heard - c"npl-n' possibly H', ntl''.
some reason. that those improvement. nave A'l
materially benefited their particular localities. but tn"
plan here outlined would. 70 some extent tighten i,'
,enG - c"uaiilo tbcn,
II j, realized that the project here -uc-e~ed would
require many year - HIly .i.Fl or; a'' ,.i'y
n a., Jun nt a i, ~ Lict th,, tbore. are mo- con
,titutiOnal objection, 10 De overcome. and before any
debt contracted for the purpose the question oi Pr
prcty OF the expenditure -h0nid be 'uom'"l 10 'iS
people OF the STATE. under the provisions 'i ,l
Of Article VII OF the Constitution The subject J., ~
sufficient importance To merit the careful ''n'-'eidu''
II lie legislature
,.,,,, ,,-Tt,ors IN, T,xATT1N
"" - 49,, -.+ ~ ,,,,,,i,.i,r ana
Ih' vast grown "l wv '' - 80