New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-02

II is hoped and expected that positive acton
will be taken by the coming Legislature 10 pro-
mote the cause Of good roads in this State. Inc
State has recently decided to spend S9,Oooooo
for the Improvement Of the canals. Important as
this work is TO the commercial interests or the
State and Of lis principal city, 1t Is obvious that
liberal expenditure for the construction or I'M
proved highways would appeal to an even larger
number OF people and come home 10 them more
closely Not that any one proposes to spend
$1,000 900 for this purpose or even one-tenth or
that sum mt least at the outset Certainly good
beginniug can be made for much less, and a be-
ginning seems 10 be the important thing just
now. What has beeI done heretofore does not
amount to this even. There was passed in 1S'E'
q law providing for road improvement by the
affirmative action of the Board of Supervisors in
any county, but the outcome Of that legislation
has been practically nil 1t is evident that the
time has come for the adoption Of new policy.
Doubtless Ncw-York cannot do better than to
follow the example Of those States which have
established State Highway Commissions and
undertaken road improvement on definite and
scientific principles. That this work should be
taken in hand by the State is generally conceded
hv those who have studied the subject with care
and intelligence. No better example has been
given than thai Of Massachusetts. where the
sentiment in favor Of good roads is so strong
that il found expression in the platforms Of both
the parties in tide recent campaign There has
hcen q Highway Commission in Massachusetts
for some time and this year the Legislature APP
propriatcd 100000 for the construction of roads
on the new State system Al the next session OF
the Legislature it is expected that Sl,0o0OOO VIII
be- appropriated for the continuation of the work.
Petitions for road construction by the State
Commission have been received from two-thirds
of the towns in the State, and bodybuilding has
been going on this season In seventy localities.
II the petitions now in hand are favorably re.
yarded more than 700 miles Of road will be con
structed; and it is the belief Of the Highway
Commissioners that ultimately about 1000 miles
of road will pass under the care Of the State.
This will be about 10 per cent Of the whole.
which is just about the proportion Of roads under
Government care and control in France and Aus
tra But the work accomplished is by no means
exhausted by that done directly by the State, for
many Of the towns which have experienced the
benefits of good roads have purchased road ma
chinery with the intention Of lettering their sys-
TEN generally The State has also done good
construction of roads which Professor Shaler.
one Of the Commissioners, says he would be will
ing to enter in a competition with the work Of
the road-builders of France.
Connecticut, New,Jersey and Rhode Island
have also rendered State aid in road construc-
ton. and unquestlonably something Is TO be
learned from what they have done; but appnr-
emily the experience OF Massachusetts has the
most valuable lessons for our own Legislature to
ponder on. \ committee appointed by the AS
sembly last winter has been examining the sub
ject Of road improvement. and we trust that its
report will propose a plan which will prove gen
orally acceptable. The State Is in such Il financial
condition that IL can afford to enter on this work
In an Intelligent and broad minded way. New
York is now tagging behind other States, and the
condition OF most Of its roads, even at this sea
son OF the year, is execrable. The Connecticut