The Monitor-register., 1897-01-29
stone Roads Built.

The third annual report of Henry l.
Budo, Commissioner of Public Roads for
New Jersey, is out. 1t shows the work
of road building has progressed during
the year 1896. The report says that the
state aid law has stimulated the property
owners of many counties to spend hund-
reds of thousands of dollars upon their
roads to meet the state appropriation.
The result is shown in the possession of
many improved highways connecting our
principal towns and cities.
Under this law the state paid in 1899,
500, 661 S5; in 1893. $61 27S %; in 1894.
$74, 696 S3, in 1895, 100000; in 1896.
500 900; it's appropriations for 1887 are
500, 900, making total of $466, 595 lO,
which added to the amount WHICH ooun-
ties and individuals are req uired to spend
to get the state appropriation, aggregates
10 six years, for permanent roads in New
Jersey, over 81 400, 900, making total of
about 300 miles constructed and con-
tracted for under the state law. Many
more mi les are applied for and petitions
for other roads are being constantly filed,
showing the demand for good roads to be
so great that people are willing to subject
themselves to increased taxation, neoes-
sary to meet the requirements of the state
aid law.
For the year 1897, on account of many
miles in the lower portion of the state
being of cheap construction OF gravel,
bog ore and oyster shells, the miisge
contracted for will be somewhere in the
| eiehborhood of 100 miles, double that
of any previous year. By June of 1897
there will be a continuous improved high
way from Atlantic City to and through
Camden, to Burlington and Mount Holly.
Links are being constructed which will
form continuous chain from Atlantic
City through Camden, Mount Holly,
Columbus, Bordentown, Trenton, Prince.
ton. New Brunswick, Elizabeth and
Newark to Jersey City; other roads
already built, and building, serving as
feeders to this great highway, and
branches to the outlying towns and cities.
Nearly all the cities and towns of any
Importance have improved roads di-
verging in many directions through the
surrounding country. These improved
highways give new life to the country
through which they pass, as they are
often thronged with bicycles and other
vehicles, which easily and pleasurably
carry their weight of freight and passen-
gers to and from the leading trade GEN.
tres.
Iu the early history Of the road law.
Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Mercer
and MiddIesex counties were the only
applicants for state aid; now Atlantic,
Essex, Morris, Monmouth, Passaic. Som
erset and Salem counties have been added
to the ever increasing list, making the
share of the appropriation for each too
small for the wants of their enterprising
citZens.
Atlantic county in 1896 and 1897 opens
new era in our road building; she pre-
sents the first road in the state, eon-
structed under the state aid law, ont oil
any other material than stone. Twenty
two miles of gravel are being built from
Absecon to Hammonton.
Camden county is also to build twelve
miles of gravel to connect with this.
Mon mouth county is building a road oi
bog ore four miles long. Salem county
| is building road of oyster shells three
miles long.
Burlington county is building road Of
1 stone two and half miles long, with
Stag foundation.
Phe remaining portion of the 100 miles
will be of maesdsm and stone cons true
tion.