The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-12-27
IMPROVED HIGHW US.
The State Commission Holds a Pub
lie Hearing To-Day.
Ex-G0V. LADD'S ADDRESS.
Remarks Were Made by Wsli-Known
Men. and Suggestions Were Made in
Regard to Building Roads. and the
Cost-"Farmer'' Greene Was Present.

The Rhode Island State Highway Com
mission held public hearing on the con-
dition Of the roads in the State this fore
noon in the Senate chamber OF the State
House
George +. Beane, chairman OF the COM
mission, presided.
Secretary Charles +. Chase read the
call and resolution passed by the com
mission at meeting held Dec. O.:
"Voted that all remarks upon the
desirability Of good roads shall be barred
from the hearings for the reason that the
COMMITTEES are of one mind OH that
subject"
Fx-Gov. Ladd's Remarks.
Ex-Gov Ladd appeared before the CON-
mission by special invitation and spoke
on the financial aspect of the question.
He prepared his remarks with a refer
ence TO the recommendations made in n Is
annual messages TO the legislature which
resulted in the appointment OF the COM
mission. and thus explained his views
'As have looked into the matter for
the last i've or six years, the problem we
have to deal with is not only to improve
our methods Of road making and road
keeping, but to properly organize and
control such system or road work as
shall secure the best results with the
greatest economy TO the people OF the
whole state. In our state, especially,
where the counties cut no figure in gov
ernment, the body polite being cut up
into thirty-siX divisions of town and
city, is this Capitalization of control aud
broad legal supervision desirable. A
wholly satisfactory condition OF things
cannot be reached. IL an occasional eater
prising town does undertake to put it's
own in repair. It's own work largely
fails IL adjacent towns no not cooperate.
State roads as nucleus of "A system,
or at least State supervision. would seem
TO offer the best solution of the difficulty.
The larger communities would thus be
unhamp-red by those less able to main
tain good roads systems and would bear
the greater share of the burden of cost as
they would derive proportionately
greater share of the benefit. Thus, in e. e
present condition Of things at least, any
comprehensive work of highway Improve
melIt can alone be undertaken by the
State, 1t seems to me.
Now, granted we are all agreed as to
the need Of good roads, and even in gen.
eral as to the methods TO be pursued, the
financial part of the problem is a serious
one, and brings us face to face with the
very inadequate revenue system of our
state, so we'll understood by all who have
had to do with the government.
"Rich as our State IS, IL is sadly lack
ing in Facilities for and sources OF rev.
enue. The laws of other States secure to
them larger sums for sources which are
neglected in this State, and il similar
laws were adopted here our revenues
would be increased without greater bur
den to our citizens.
What Other States Do.
"Other states tax their railroads, for
example; aud if this were done in like
manner in this state there would be one
most advantageous source OF increased
revenue. The lack of such a law pre-
vented the consolidation OF the Boston
aud Providence with the Stonington
road years ago.
while our state is small and rich, it
is sadly in need Of money for inevitably
Increasing expenses which the natural
growth OF the state and its institutions,
as well as for court houses, armories, new
normal school and other public buildings
and works. The magnificent majority
almost two TO one, for a new state nous,
at the last election, indicates that the
people are alive 10 the necessities of our
commonwealth and are anxious TO enter
upon the work OF supplying then at once.
reference is made TO this vote of the
state house-because OF its significance In
connection with the question of good
roads which il Is hoped Will also and
soon, be brought before the people for
their endorsement; and it is done be-
cause my first message to the General
Assembly was as earnest in advocating
the one as the other. aud because also one
of the few arguments In opposition to the
popular movement tor "a new state house
before election was that we needed good
roads more than we did good state
house. AS maintained in both my an
nual communications to the assembly,
we need both. One is now assured. and
your commission will. If Judge popular
sentiment Alright, succeed in securing for
the other similarly magnificent en-
dorsement.
What the Commission Can DO.
al sincerely believe that your Commits
sion can illustrate as fact that what
good horse can accomplish ia given
number Of hours over the poorer roads I'm
our state and what the same horse can
over the best roads i'm the
same number of hours-calculated and
figured out, will show saving to our
people in favor of good roads, of a sum
sufficient TO wipe out such outlay as you
may recommend for roads improvement
inside of ten years. / firmly believe that
within fifteen years after the com
pletion of new State House,
there will be such "a traI sIormation In
architecture and buildings in the city of
GrONlueuCe anu lHt SttJe as VIII In
crease our valuation to more than com
pensate for the initial outlay. And your
commission will thus also be able TO
make such report as will assure
the passage of resolution sub
hitting 20 the people a proposition
for another loan more or less which,
within twenty years after its wise ex-
penditure IN roads improvement aud be-
comes due would in addition Increase the
real estate and property throughout the
entire State sufficiently 10 pay Tor itself.
Thus With an adequate revision of our
taxation aud revenue laws, | am conf
dent that our financial problems will
solve themselves readily, without burden
to our people"
MIR. Kcach's sy stem.
Clorls +. Keach Of Burrillville, inventor
OF n system for the improved construc-
tion OF highways, spoke as follows;
81 have a system of road making which
in several respects il different from any
other. i present the names of ninety
seven Of my neighbors i'm Burri.lville en-
dorsing my system"
Mr. Reach presented n model illustra,-
-, btu mai lnI anH plafpaI ba