The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-05-24

There also exists In THIS state certain
highways, stretching through two or
more towns or cities, and used in common
by the people Of such towns and cities,
aud in many cases by people from out OF
the State, where, possibly the State should
Justly assist-in the first place, In the
putting OF such highways into proper
condition for use, as such
proper condition is understood
at the present time. To that END the
committee recommend bill, submitted
with this report, which, in such cases,
upon petition OF the towns interested,
will cause the expense OF making such inn
provements TO be ascertained, and sub
mitted TO the General Assembly, to the
end that the General Assembly may de-
eide whether { he expense OF such improve
ment is proper one for the State TO par
ticipate in, and, IL so, to what extent, ana
that they may thereafter order the COM
pletion OF such improvement.
This is as far as the committee feel that
they are justified in recommending ex-
penditure on the part OF the State In the
construction of highways.
The committee also recommend ana
submit with this report a bill which they
hope will cure the improper use OF high
ways throughout the State, which they
have herein criticized, and which Is COM
monty known as "The Wide Tire Bill"
A radical measure changing at once the
tires upon the wagons throughout the
State, the committee feel, would cause an
expense too great to be asked OF the
people of the State, but that wagons
constructed or purchased in the future,
or upon which rims and tires are renewed,
should be made to conform to the pro-
visions of this act, we think Is only rea-
sonable, 'and cas- we have herein before
stated, we think that the results OF such
an act, in the course OF a few years, Will
be the saving of an immense annual sum
to the Taxpayers of the State.
The committee also recommend and
submit with this report bill to provide
for the abolishing Of highway districts as
they are at present known and for the
constituting of not to exceed four high
way districts in each town, in each OF
which work shall be done by highway
surveyor elected by the Town Council who
is wholly Under their control and may be
removed at their pleasure like any paid
employe. This law also provides for do
ing work as far as possible by contract,
and abolishes the working out OF taxes
on the highways.
From their study of the highway ques-
tion, with reference to improvement in
the construction and maintenance OF
relate to the ssme,r tho committee. rs
before stated, believe that much better
work could be done with even the small
amount of money now expended in many
OF the towns IL 1t were applied more in
telligently. BY the present methods, the
money expended annually is, in many in
| stances, thrown away, the work done not
being of any value for moro than six or
eight months, when it has to be done
over again. 1.-THE money which Is spent
in doing this work could be put into ma
teral of more lasting quality each year
so that the roads would stand several sea-
sons without much expense for repairs,
| it seems to the committee that much more
| progress could be made In obtaining good
roads. What is needed in these towns is
more instruction In the modern methods
OF good road building, and this is the OBJ
ject which the committee has had in view
in preparing the acts which 1t Is pro-
posed to present to the General Assembly
with this report.
A - hA Ia
tent civil engineer, and whose services can
be obtained by every town in the State
without charge, il is believed by the COM
mittee, could be Of great value in aiding
| the cause OF good roads. He would soon
obtain an extensive knowledge of the
amount and location of road building
| material in the State and would be
able to advise the towns in re-
| gard to the cost and wearing qualities OF
| it. In the construction of the sample
roads, provided for in the act, the people
| OF the various towns will not only be able
| to judge Of the advantages OF a macadam-
lied road In their locality
and built upon the soil oi
which their roads consist, but they will
also be able TO obtain a knowledge as to
the cost and wearing quality OF the mate
rials which may be at hand out Of which
TO build such a road, and from this date
can determine the probable cost OF more
extensive system of macadamizsd roads
The services OF such q commissioner
will also be required, and be absolutely
essential, In obtaining Information in re-
gard to the necessity and advisability oi
improving the roads used in common by
several towns and cities, and in making the
| improvements II they are decided upon
For this reason the committee has provided
for the creation OF such an Office in one oi
the acts which it recommends, and made
it the duty OF the commissioner to super
wise the construction of the sample road.
and OF the roads used in common, whict
the General Assembly may see fit to inn
prove, and to give advice and assistanc,
to the various town councils ana high
way surveyors when required by them.
The committee feel that the enactment