New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-15

the good of the country it did not originate with
any statesmen. phi,anthropiss. particularly pub
lic-sprted men, but in the more selfish wish OF the
wheelmen for hard roads to ride over. The wheel
mon took hold of the matter and brought 1t to sue
cessful head in the Legislature with the second
years tra.. The reform Is IN such stage tnat
It Is necessary for the wheeren, as such, to do
ANYTHING: but they are 50 organized that they can
make the Legislature fee. their power at any time
In the city campaign in Lynn which has just c.osed,
the wheelmen who wanted Improvements in the
roads made it living issue. and carried the mat
ter into the election The whetlne generally have
had wonderful success with their agitation, and, II
the truth known, the passage OF the first BIZ
through the Legislature in 1893 was due to the
pressure which these comparatively few men in diff
ferent parts OF the State put upon the Finance
Committee Of the House to persuade them TO vote
for appropriation.
Chairman Perkins says that he intends to ask
the legislature at the coming session for 100000
with which To push the construction OF good roads
all over the State and he believes that he viii, get
It, The money Is borrowed not voted outright; and
this Is much more than has been asked FOR be-
fore. In 1925 the Legislature appropriated $4,000
for building State highways. and in 1894 they APP
propr!ated 10000 All OF this 10000 is either spent
applied for. that there il nothing left for the
towns which are pettiouiag for macadaniZed
Highways. Chairman Perkins figures ii out that the
State can afford to appropriate 100000 on the
macaIlmized roads will more than equll the inter-
es on the money which the State will have ID bor-
row. The method pursued is TO borrow the money.
bonds and then put into the State tax enough
10 pay the interest on the bonds and 10 provide
sinking fund which vii meet the bonds at maturity.
WHERE FARMERS SAVE MONEY.
The farmers in the market-garden towns to the
north of Boston have tod the chairman Of the Com
mission that they can 81 a load over their
former expense in bringing their goods to Boston
on account of the better grades ana surfacng which
have been done FOR a part Of the way by the Com
mission. 1t Is further reported that some Of the
farmers in these have raised the asling price
their farms. wherever they have been disposed t.
sci because of The value COR farming purposes in
Guiding Transportation OF produce to market. which
han been added by the highway While it is
impossible 10 calculate accurately the saving to the
public by better roads, yet the people are growing
more and more in favor of them. and the chairman
believes that the temper Of the Legislature WILL
favor appropriation OF 100000
Reports come 20 the office OF the Commission OF a
purpose the part Of some people - ask for
large appropriation at to finish particular por
toHs Of the roads which have been begun. 1t is the
practice of the Commission 10 hui d short pieces in
many localities. that the benefits OF the
system may be shared by people al. over the State
and not be limited to fcw localities. The cOnse
qucncc is that whore the pcOp.c have had taste Of
II.
stance "A road has been aid out for small part
of the way from Lowell down the Merrimac Valley
TO the sea But OF the peope along the line
want the next Legislature 10 appropriate enough at
the nexi session - finish the whoe distance or
about $4,000. At a meeting OF the Association Of
Highway superintendent in Leicester the other
day. the feeling appeared or course. not a
these people get what they want, II any OF
them do but these expressions show how popular
the highway reform has become in this State The
State cannot well bear the expense OF sucl a great
outlay but the reform vii be introduced as fast as
possible.
Thus far there have been built In the State So
miles OF new mlcadamized highway. most Of 1t this
str,ct.on possbl" late In the The Commits
slcn has received 90 petitions from fourteen cte'
ard ISL towns. ana they continue in. tn Dugh
they cannot be acted upon IN next spring The
lorges, piece OF improved highway In the state D.
about three niles, and the length j. from this
maximum down to about one mi . Il T. the % ley
% the Commissioners 10 buid the road the
poorest part OF given line. so that the character
OF the road, "A whole viii be improved. Tor,
the weakest link measures the strength OF "A cnain.
weight Of load whlch be hauled up5n IT, II
makes difference how good the other parts may
be, the mudhO.c or hill which makes the load
sarily small Is the decisive place I'm the whoe Inc
BY taking out the wors; spots H. many roads there
has thus been an appreciate gain In the character
new road ia the different counties ID not equal FOR