The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-02-01
NEW JERSEY ROADS
State Commissioner Il. /.
Budd Makes His An
snual Report.
LARGER APPROPRIATIONS REQUISITE
MERGERS Thirty Miles-The States
Advantase;-WIat Next Years
Work Will Accomplish.
LARGER APPROPRIATIONS REQUISITE

NC itoaus Tor the State. There were 46.i1
miles of roads constructed during the year
under the State Aid law. of which Mercer
county got 3.07 miles and had before
1875.
Next year Mercer county is to have built
the remington and Hopewell road. AS
miles long: Lawrenceville and Princeton,
no. ana Mercerville and Edinburg. l.0o,
making 1927, or 20.12 altogether. when
they are completed. All the other roads
desired under the State Aid law will have
to wait until another year. unless the
state increases its appropriation.
All Of the roads of the State have been
frequently visited by Commissioner Budd.
some OF his observation follow
q four months of almost continued
absence or rainfall has been very trying
70 all Kinds of roads. The sand roads
became almost impossible with their UNI
usual depth of sand. The gravel and
dirt roads dissolved into dust and chuck
holes, and the stone roads manifested a
strong tendency to disintegrate on the
surface for the want of moisture to ce-
ment the binding material with the stones.
In many cases this tendency was overcome
~ q siight top-dressing of loamy gravel;
N otners by the application of water. Per
napS tne most practical and economical
plan is In the late spring to apply thin
u 81 dfSl@+QOSS6SSlQ& cGmentlnO
qualities. beds of which are found in q
rev localities in the State, not far from
wnere most needed, Noticing that where
present. through a damp subsoil, under the
snaue OF trees. or where municipalities or
imcorporated stone pixies have daily re-
course 10 the sprinkler. there was little or
no travelling, / became impressed that water
Is a most potent element for preserving
the integrity of the road-beds, so have
urged upon all the county boards, where
It could economically be done, the appIica-
non OF the needed moisture
L have also noticed, WHERE the surface
OF the stone roads was a part of shaded
avenues, there was little or no disinte-
grating T. t thus emphasizing the experience
that macadamized roads should be set
with shade or. fruit trees, thus employ
provide what would require consideraabJlse
besides a Ing Beauty Beau = to 9u the trfi snGsaspss
Another necessary provision for their
maintenance, is the quick adoption of
measures whereby loaded wagons viii be
inches wide. Narrow tires are the most
fruitful source Of cutting and rutting
broad tires were the rule the trai1c would
continually roll and consolidate the bed.
ny predecessor was anxious to extend
as possible 50 as to give all sections the
benefit of firm roads for their heavy traf-
aenr IN prd ae t. f5o % this nri,a he sonfi Inc his
not more than twelve feet Wide. The
first in practice has proven too narrow.
same path, and the wheels IS RI am in one one
and the same tread, thus, instead of
spreading the traffic over the whole sur
which are .catchments for moisture, soft
enlng the bed and requiring frequent adj
d ddioass Of material to keep t properly
SO far approved for the coming years
construction have been fourteen and six
having. taught that their maintenance
would be much more economical, as there
would be room for. the traffic to spread
compacting instead of a disi~ntegrating
tendency, besides allowing loaded teams
some counties, increase the cost, as a
thinner coat of metal is used; six to eight
years as good a purpose as ten to twelve
The demand for stone roads is decid-
joying their benefits. To construct all
5 s.se are applied for and accepted by the
der the present appropriation, require
many years.
ex ttIf5g Mills iim,t Of t5 read nr bed per year is the the
(s10e, 00O will assist in building.
Five counties have in the past been
lowing each the improvement of an ave
rage of about ten miles.
Now fourteen countries are receiving
bounty: thus limiting the Improvement
N each county to an average of only
about three and one-half miles per year.
counties of the atate-are awakened to the
necessity of good roads, as they no doubt
soon vii be the progress Of each will be
less than two and a half miles per year.
a rate Of progress that will be pre-emfni
emily unsatisfactory to those counties
thai are each yearly petitionins for from
ten to thirty miles.
The improvement of our highways in
creases our comfort and. stimulates every
agricultural, manufacturing and CONNER
State in the Union that viii secure 50
many advantages from stone roads as
New Jersey. The immense populations
that are gathering within and Just over
are rapidly overHowing into the surround
ing country. and moving along the lines
of least resistance or most pleasing sur
each year to more and more distant points
and the parts of New Jersey that pre-
will catch the many that. from necessity,
health and comfort, continually seek SUI
Although New Jersey is situated in the
midst Of the greatest population on the
face Of this continent. the prices of her
creas'ng in value, because the product of
the Western farms from cheap lands and
cheaper transportation are sold at our
doors for less than we can raise them.
Our farmers, driven from the growth of
their old-time standard crops. wheat. rye,
pork and cattle. have reserted to milk.
fruits and vegetables. But the rapid de-
velopment Of the South is bringing to our
home markets, in yearly increasing guam
titles. the perish3ble articles of whose sale
we thought we had a monopoly, and so,
before our productions grow to perfection.
the great. cities are flooded with Southern
friiifS and VAoptdhleS- orr farmers SnQrra-
" finding refuge in a new citadel before a
ruthless invader storms and carries it
Profit hecoming less and less each year
farm values steadily decrease. and the
only resort that seems to he left to the
farmer is to make his broad acres 50 at
duced. in their outlook for rural homes
and villa sites. to purchase portions of
his homestead.
The first temptation will be good roads.
Paved highways are reaching out In all
directions from our ponalous @centerss
our many cities are moving in constant
Slv increasing numbers the older pixies
showing in many places large settle
ments.
withstrees and rnacadam and thus hasten
the two great cities win become one vast
hive of pleasure and industry, then Jer-
sew farmers will no longer mourn for
lost values. but bless the law thai first
came to their assistance and stimulated
them to road Improvement.
have noticed thai stoning, the main thor
ougbfares has stimulated the township
authorities aT4l private individuals to inn
prove the side roads leading thereto.