New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-22
A LAW PROVIDING FOR BETTER ROADS

The discussion in regard to public roads look
ing to the improvement of all the highways OF
the State is sure to continue until great ana
permanent reform is secured A correspondent
directs the attention of those interested in the
subject to the law which was passed by the
Legislature of 1890, entitled "An Act to pro-
vide for the improvement and maintenance OF
the public roads in certain counties as county
roads," Richmond County has availed herself
of the provisions of this act, and we are IN
formed by next summer Staten Island will have
completed nearly thirty miles of first-c'aSs roads,
This law authorizes the Boards of Supervisors
of counties of not more than 200 square miles
Of area TO assume control of the local roads for
the purpose of maintaining and improving them
A road which runs through village cannot pass
under the control of the Supervisors without the
consent of the village trustees, the term :" road
being construed to include street, avenue or
other public highway. The control OF the Super
visors is conditioned upon the filing in the Coun-
~ Clerks office Of map showing the roads
which they purpose to improve. Having for
mally estimated by resolution what sum will be
required to put and keep the roads in proper
condition. the Supervisors are empowered to bor-
row it on the credit of the county and issue the
necessary bonds This improvement fund can
not exceed in any year an amount which Win
the outstanding bonded Indebtedness OF the coun-
ty shall be more than 0 per cent OF the assessed
valuation of the county as shown by the assess
ment rolls All improvements are to be made
under contracts with the lowest bidder upon
| bids which have been publicly advertised for
in the usual manner. One of the most valuable
features of the law is its requirement that :" all
improvements and repairs made under and In
pursuance of this act shall be done under the
supervision OF n competent civil engineer hold
ing diploma as such. The Board OF
Supervisors shall cause all county roads to be
divided into sections OF not more than one milo
each. and II shall be the duty Of the supervising
engineer to make a regular quarterly report
which shall state the then condition OF each
section, the amount expended thereon for the
last quarter and the reoairs necessary for the
ensuing quarter and the estimated cost there
off,
The law has other sensible features. 1t pre-
scribes several regulations which are TO govern
all improvements or repairs-regulations relating
to the width and depth of the roadbed the ma
terals that may be used on the roads and re-
lated matters. frONlSlOH II HIduc W prevent
horse or electric railways which may be allowed
10 Use the roads from becoming a nuisance :;
and to compel those who lay gas or water mains
to leave all highways in as good condition as
they found them-something by the way, which
such people rarely do. There is also pro-
vision governing expenditures for improvements
| which may exceed rate of $40, 900 per mile. 1t
is to be added that the law is not compulsory in
| any county containing city of over 100000
| inhabitants "unless the Board Of Supervisors
| thereof shall by vote OF four-ffths of all the
| members determine that it will be beneficial
TO such county that this act shall be compulsory
| therein
How many counties in the State have entered
upon the great work of road reform under this
law we are unable to say. Probably few
Of them beside Richmond, else that fact would
| have come out in the discussion which has taken
| Mace this year. But Richmond finds that it
works well, and certainly it provides for the
maintenance, repair and improvement OF our
roads in accordance with rational system. II
| could readily be amended so as to make it apply
| TO all the counties of the State. And, pending
the passage of general measure of larger scope
-one providing for series of State roads con-
Meeting the county seats-it Is possibly the best
| thing that could be done. Certainly anything
is better than the existing system, which is re-
sponsible for the abominable roads that are to
| be found all over the State.