New-York tribune., 1896-05-04
THE PROBLEM OF GOOD ROADS.


One of the sins of omission chargeable against
the lately adjourned Legislature Is It's failure
TO enact any measures that VIII appreciaply
facilitate the construction OF good roads ID the
State. 1t was moi from lack Of opportunity
that the Legislature failed TO meet the expecta-
tions of the intelligent portion Of the commun-
ity in this respect. The Assembly OF the pre-
yious wear appointed committee Of which MI
Higbie "a member of the Senate this year, was
the chairman. to examine the road question in
all It's aspects and recommend legislation the
committee did It's work in n way to win com
mendation, and laid before the Legislature
series of bills which If enacted would have
enabled the Empire State 10 take It's place in
the ranks Of those States which have mani
tested intelligent interest In good roads. n
fortunately these bills were not passed. and
although Mr. IIgbie showed a disposition to
make concessions and would have been con
tent with securing the enactment Of some good
roads legislation the only bill the subject
that passed was one doing away with the long
established system of working ont road taxes;
and as to this. we believe. large number Of
counties were exempted from It's operation.
The net result of legislation on this subject
the present year is therefore practically nil.
well to ask themselves why this is New
Jersey, Connecticut. Massachusetts and Other
States have enacted intelligent laws on this
subject and under their operation many miles
of good roads have been bu, Within two or
three days State Road Commissioner Budd. OF
New.Jerscy. has said that his State has now
about 1000 miles Of good stone roads, and.
while 'extraordinary progress Is being made,
I..xa NAL for
than can be built in several years with the pres
| ent appropriation Of 100000 a year. Here Is
| proof positive Of a large and intelligent inter
| est in the subject Of road improvement in
sister State Why is the feeling In our own
| State so different: Why are the people Of New
| York almost absolutely Indifferent while their
| neighbors are kccnly alive to the importance Of
| improving their highways: These are questions
| of the most serious character and our intellI-
| gent and progressive citizens should bestow on
| them careful attention.
There Is reason to believe that there is in the
| rural communities generally a total lack Of ap-
probation of the benefits of good roads which
| can be used at all seasons Of the year The
| truth Is the people have had no experience of
good roads and no opportunity Of judging Of
their superiority over bad ones There Is much
room for popular education or the subject. and
| one Of the best means of education would be- the
| construction in every community Of a piece of
| frst-class road. Such m object lesson would be
| invaluable, and il Is easy to believe that large
| advantages might flow from liberal cxpendi-
| tIre by the State in this direction. Then. too
| there Is natural and easily understood fear
| on the part Of the farmers that the provision OF
| good roads means an Increase of taxes: and the
| course Of things at Albany during the recent
session showed that there Is n strong feeling that
| II Is advantageous to work OUT road taxes
| rather than to pay them in hard cash.
The educational campaign on the good roads
| question should be taken in hand at once and
prosecuted vigorously. In this work the rural
press can render valuable service in dissent
mating information about roads and insisting
| on the advantages Of improving them In an In
| tegent and scientific manner. II Is fair TO
| presume that on non-politcal matter OF this
kind the members Of the Legislature, by their
action, reflected the feeling Of their cOnstitu-
ents Nothing can be palmer, therefore, than
that there Is vast educational work to be
done We believe. too, that the State should
be liberal in dealing with this question. State
that can afford to expend $0,O00.0O0 in improv-
Ing the canals should make an early beginning
In expcnding money wisely and literally In
building improved highways for the benefit OF
all the people.