The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-10

commissioners find their own powers pro-
portionally restricted. To avoid any hand
to-mouth arrangement, the supervisors
may borrow money on bonds at not over
five per cent. interest, running for not
more than twenty years. That plan puts
the cost OF improvements not on the ex-
listing generation alone. but partly on the
taxpayers OF future years who will enjoy
them. The term Of Office OF supervisors
was extended to two years, to make their
work more continuous.
Governor FLOWER says that he found
many farmers. during the past summer.
averse to taking advantage OF this law. on
account OF the cost; but when he spoke Of
putting convcts at work on road building.
US is done experimentally near Clinton
prison, they listened intently, and ap-
plauded. The farmers. he thinks. really
understand how good roads would put
money in their pockets, yet they cling to
the old-fashioned method Of working out
the road tax. which utterly fails to give
good roads:
"The counties of New York State expend in
money and days labor valued at about dol
lar day for each man. about So 600 900 year upon
their roads. exclusive OF the time and money spent
road and street improvement In villages and
cities This average OF $4,000 for each county
That amount OF money scientifically expended each
year would build miles OF good mae adam
road at a cost OF $1,000 per mile. Or II the county
preferred to build roads faster this annual eIpen
diture would pay tho interest and provide small
amount for tho sinking fund Issue OF bonds suf
fcent to construct hundred and forty miles
Of macadam roads venture to say there is not n
county in New YORK which, II It would bond itself for
million dollars and invest tho money in the scientific
construction of hghways would not in 1--WE have
increased the valuation Of its real estate many times
the amount OF the Investment But that would be only
q small part of tho gain. Tho greater part would BIO In
tho saving Of wagon transportation. saving in veh
cles saving in horses. saving in time saving in
labor. saving in risks. saving in markets"
He further shows that, IL public senti-
ment Is averse to bonding. an annual tax
OF only five mills on dollar would enable
five counties to build each. yearly. fifty miles
and more of macadam road ten counties to
build twenty-five miles and more, or fifty
five counties to build five miles and more.
With tax Of one mill. five counties could
build over ten miles each. and ten could
build over five miles each
The Governors suggestions have the ad
vantage Of directness and simplicity. He
does not seek to deceive the people with the
idea that they can get this valuable result
WITHOUT pdylnR lOT IL, uOF uOcS le eu-
deavor to shift the burden away from
the shoulders Of those who are to reap
the benefit. In this respect his view
may well be contrasted with that Of Mr.. A.
A. Pope OF Boston. who also wants good
roads. but proposes that each State shall
build them by a graduated succession tax
on legacies and inheritances. The two SUBJ
jects. highways and requests or inheri-
tances. Of course have no relation whatever
to each other. and the introduction OF such
a system might be followed by habit OF
imposing some new special tax of a like
nature for any public improvement that
might be advocated. until the American sys-
TEN Of taxation should become an intolera-
BILE nuisance. The Governor let's the people
of the counties understand that they must
pay for the roads they get. while showing
how they can do it with very little trouble
and also how greatly they will be rewarded
in the end.