The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-04-04
SOLID FOR GOOD ROADS
MR.. MACDONALD TISIT TO MERI
DEN.


Connecticut Continues to Manifest wide
Awake Appreciation OF the Movement
For Having Good Roads,
Chairman ]. II, Macdonald of the
state highway commission was in Meri-
den Wednesday and with Selectmen
Ellsbree and Kline of that town went
to the Berlin road and looked over the
ground there.
Chairman Macdonald said to a Men-
den Republican reporter that the work
on highways throughout the state was
progressing splendidly. He found that
the sentiment for good roads existed
everywhere, and that that sentiment
was growing stronger and stronger
each day. The greatest opposition to
the systematic improvement of roads
he found in the small towns, where
there We're no large cities to help pay
the cost Of construction, and that OPP
position was only because the small
towns hated to tax themselves for the
cost. Taxes were high already and the
additional tax would make the burden
heavier. He found, however that even
in the smaller towns this opposition
was falling before the assault of prac-
teal argument. 1t does not take long
to convince the wide awake farmer that
If he can haul heavier loads over good
roads than over bad ones, 1t is to his
advantage to have good roads. so he
soon comes to believe he can pay any
additional taxation.
WORK DONE LAST YEAR.
In speaking of the amount of work
to be done this year, Mr.. Macdonald
said: IT cannot yet say how much new
road will be built this year, but
think it will be considerably more than
last year. We have never figured out
how many miles were actually i'm
proved last year. There were eighty
! towns that asked for state aid OF
this number twenty-five completed
their work and 1t was accepted, thir-
! ty-six gave out the contracts. but the
work was not done, fifteen had the
work done but 1t was not accepted by
the state, on account of some minor
points, and nine had decided to do the
work, but were working over certain
details that were not settled,
| IHdl IS IL EellldIhdDle SIlOWlilS Loh
the conservative state Of Connecticut.
The state is usually quite backward
about taking hold Of a new thing, even
if it is going to be of benefit and the
eagerness with which work on the roads
was commenced, shows that it depart
ed from all precedent.
''The benefit of the good roads
movement can already be seen in the
improved condition of certain roads.
The main thoroughfares between
towns are the ones that are receiving
attention, and as the town usually
votes to fix the worst part Of the road,
we find that one years work has in
some instances opened four or five
miles of good road"
SENTIMENT IMPROVING.
Mr.. Macdonald thinks that the SEN
timent this year is far ahead of what
it was last. He tells many incidents
where opposition has been overcome
by a good word said by some member
of the commission to the town meeting
and thinks that the visits through the
state have been of immense advan-
tage to the cause. The healthy spirit
that now prevails will work wonders
incidentally referring to the fight If
Meriden over the selection of the road
to be fixed, he said that while These
meetings were undoubtedly the lars-
est, yet they were not near SO bitter
as some which were held in the smalle,
towns.
In reference to the wisdom Of con
structing good roads, Mr.. Macdonald
referred to the action of the Consoli-
dated road in changing it's road bee
from one of gravel to one of stone
when it was found that stone made q
better road, although the cost of the
former was $1,000 per mile on single
track, and the latter was $4,000 pei
mile on single track.