The Press., 1891-04-09
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The coming 70 the front or the m&yCOT
 of country carriage roads, we trust, is no
 temporary fad, but recognition of the
 of matter too long left in the background. In the struggle to mul- tiply our mileage of steam highways we have lost sight of an important necessity of local traffic. A gentleman of this bor- ough who has steadily held to the value to the public of good carriage roads and urged the matter in The Press in past years before it had been so gen. erally taken up by others, narrates con- versation had some time ago with Senator Coffin of Middletown, one of the soundest and clearest-headed men in the state, in which that gentleman made the statement that if the city of Middletown had in- vested in the improvement of wagon roads leading into that city the money given in aid to railroads, better results would have been secured in promoting the business and growth of the city. @fz@aa a Not long ago The Press copied from
 another paper the complaint of 6 citizen of Brimfeld, Mass, that the rural towns with their constant shrinkage In valuation and amount of taxable property could mol afford to keep up the roads to the require.
 ments of travellers, and urging that the state aid such towns in the matter. Most
 of the rural towns can afford to maintain
 good roads, if for no other reason than to attract their full share of ''summer board.
 ers," from whence most country towns get so much revenue, and whose pref ference Is generally for the hill townf which are steadily declining in popula. tion, but which are so lovely in summer
 especially if they furnish pleasant roads for drives. Yet there is point to the Brimfield mans plaint. The larger towns
 drawing revenue in trade from the smaller
 can afford to help make at least such roads as are used by the people bringing cash or produce to their markets. Dr. c. B. Ripley. 8 native of South Coventry, sn eminent lawyer of New York city, but a resident and large landholder in West. field, N. J., by his influence and largely by personal expenditure, has secured in Westfield a practical and incontrovertible exhibit of what good roads will do for e community. He is an enthusiast on the subject and has been 8 prominent factor in the present awakening of interest in the road question everywhere. He is author of scheme for system of state roads in New Jersey, and his writings on the matter have attracted much attention outside his own state.
 It is said that bicycle riders are behind much of the interest now being awakened in behalf of good roads, and this fact Is used to belittle the issue. It should not have this effect. The bicycle has ceased to be regarded as toy merely, and has come to be & legitimate and useful ve- hicle. Good roads will increase It's use, and this is an added argument for good roads. --. ..-.. .- F 1s.
 The making of good roads is being made easier by the adoption of machinery. The road scraper invented by MT. Brooks of Stafford about thirty years ago was a great advance upon old methods; and the work is now everywhere done with that or other machines patterned after it. Stone crushing machines are coming into use. These are costly, but one answers for two or more towns. Properly made roads are now being discovered to be profitable not only in economy of power and wear of beasts and wagons, but in the matter of durability. A well made road will not rut and consequently will not wash as badly as 8 poorer one. A road of crushed stone, oftenest called a maca- dam road, properly made and having a little oversight will last for an indefinite period. Hence, if town cannot macadam- ize all it's principal roads at once, 1t can save by doing short sections at intervals, and thus gradually extending it's mileage of good roads. .-.. 5e. ...-