New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-05-11
strong enough to justify it in throwing away IL
opportunities.
oor,rpv poIDS ONCE MORE.

COUNTRY ROADS ONCE MOhI'
GOOD. deal of dissatisfaction is expressed IN
some quarters at the failure OF the last Legs
Iat,ro 70 nass a bill making big appropriation
for tho ;mnrovement of the highways through
ort tho State But it behooves retOrmers TO
cultivate the virtue of patience. As rule, re-
forms move slowly. There is commonly ser-
one martin ~ overcome which goes by the name
Of conservatism. and which takes for it's motto
Let the existing order of things alone"
tbormob Improvement of the roads Of this State
means the expenditure of millions OF dollars
and the average taxpayer cannot be induced 10
constant 70 vote away in hurry vast sums Oh
money. no matter how obviously worthy may
haI tho object to which it is TO be devoted. Inc
movement in behalf of frst-class country ROADS
that is. in behalf OF what may be styled rural
rapid transit-s still young, sinceit may be sald
70 have had its practical inception IN 1871
And although it has not received the impetus
Of legislation. it has made real progress since IN
all parts of the State public sentiment mas
been developed which sooner or later is sure
TO make itself felt so strongly that the Legs
lature will necessarily respond with the proper
action
In the course of an article expressing its re-
pret at the defeat of the Road bill at Albany
:" The Journal of Commerce. argues that the
proposed appropriation would be " the best pos
sbe investment the people Of this Common
wealth could make" and it adds that " a couh-
ty that should lay out a large sum OF money
under impartial and judicious supervision III inc
construction and maintenance of improved hlgh-
WAYS would furnish the best boom possible 10
speculation in real estate" Just as soon New
Workers as a whole come to realEe this Salient
fact the appropriation will find no trouble IN
getting through the Legislature. At present
grumblers are to be found here and there who
meet and pass resolutions based on the assump-
ton that if the highways were improved as it
has been proposed to improve them they would
cost more than they would be worth we com
mend to these short-sighted persons the expert
ence of their fellow-citizens who have secured
frst-class highways. Take Union County, New
Jersey, for example. Some years ago she deter
mined to treat herself to as good roads as could
be built. The cost was not slight, but what
was the result? The Hon. Chauncey b. Rip
lev, in an address which he recently delivered
before the New-JeTey State Board Of Agr-
culture, answers this question Here is para
graph from this address:
The cost OF the Union County roads is just about 20
for each individual in the county, Including men,
women and children 1t IS fair statement, ard be-
Hove II quite true that the people who pay for these
roads would not have them taken for S1OOOOOO or
tbree times the cost. The statement was maze 10 TIC
within two weeks BY one well acquainted in the county
and familiar with the whole history Of the county roads
Our real property in Union County has increased IN
alue already by reason OF these roads all that they
cost u.s. and the roads are not yet completed
There is nothing peculiar about the expert
ence of this wideawake, public-sprlted New
Jersey county. She has conserved her own
prosperity by making herself as attractive as
possible to whom it may concern in the vital
particular of highways. She has doomed her
real estate by rendering it not WEAKNESS OF
the flesh, but delight, to travel over her terri
tory.
Some of these days all the counties OF New
York will go and do likewise, and they also
will reap good fruit from their judicious ex-
penditures. Under the law passed last winter
the metropolis VII secure rapid transit. Under
the policy which the State adopted several years
ago millions of dollars have been and millions
more are to be spent in improving the canals
Now let the country roads have chance. Be
fore another Legislature shall convene there
will be ample time for a general discussion OF
the question in all its bearings. The outcome
Of such discussion cannot fail to open the way
for the accomplishment of the great reform at
a comparatively early day.