New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-26

TIE OPPOSITION TO THE HlGBlE BILL 1NS1GNlFI-
CANT AND ITS SUPPORTERS NUMEROUS.
EVEN AMONG FARMING COMMUNITIES.
Albany Feb. 25-Advocates of good roads appeared
before the Senate Finance and Assembly Ways and
Mears Committee this afternoon in advocacy Of
favorable action the question at this session of
the LEGISLATURE. Among those present l. b.
Potter Of New-York president of the League Of
American Wheelmen; John A c. Wright, of Roches-
ter secretary of the New-York State Good Roads
club: W. c. Vrooman, of Schenectady, chairman Of
the New-York l.. A. w. Division Highway I'm
movement Committee; General Roy Stone of Wash
ing,on. director of the Government Good Roads
rnlreau: L. C. Harrison of New Jersey. a member
of the Gdvernment Good Roads Bureau; ex-senator
Collins 81 Colone. and n. G. Spauldng. OF Rens-
selaer County The committees gave a hearing on
All the Good Roads bills now pending in the Legis-
lature especially the measure introduced by Sena-
tor Hebie and Assenblyman Armstrong. which was
prepared under the supervision of President Pot
ter Ct the League of American Wheelmen.
The opposition was heard first A. r. Crocker, OF
bethlehem Centre. bitterly opposed the bill as being
700 much Of a burden for the farmers to stand at
prosent. He said that the farmers derived benefits
from bad roads. they waited for stormy weather
now 20 take their produce TO market and got better
orices under such conditions He declared that the
Good Roads movement originated for the bene-
IT Of the bicyclists.
Mr. Mclaughlin, County Engineer of Queens
County.
ysors OF Queens County authorized him TO appear
before the committee to ask that that county be
exempt from any expense under the proposed bill.
owing 10 the fact that the county had already eX-
rended 100000 for repairs 10 roads. Personally he
was in favor Of good roads Queens County though'
the Board Of Supervisors should have full charge OF
the movement. He said the farmers OF MS county
we're unanimously in favor Of good roads.
Mr. Wright speaking in favor of good roads
called attention the useless expenditure OF money
for reads that doing no good. He SAID the mig
be bill was an economical measure ana that IL
would save money for the farmers. The farmers OF
New-York had need Of transportation facilities In
order 10 compete with the Western farmers. They
had railways enough now. but what was needed
was roads 10 convey produce TO market II was not
a bicycle bill but for the benefit Of the general pup
ic There were about sixty thousand miles OF ROAD
in this State OF the 100000 spent in building ROADS
under various plans the cost would be iessehed
&, 30 90 by the bill. He submitted reports from
various States where like commissions had been
established and had been found to be Oh great
value.
ex-senator Collins followed and said that no
hin passed would benefit Colonie it built It's own
roads but he in favor Of this measure In.
State was paying bonus every bushel OF
Western grain received in Buffalo Inc ON!
fault he had to find with the bill was thd' IL "u
not appropriate enough when the oehe"'s VIZ
considered He represented the farmers as chalr-
man of the Legislative Committees OF the state
Farmers Congress and could speak for them ill.,
AsSemblyman Nixon thought tnat the sHlailUI
counties should not be forced TO bear TINS duul-
tional expense. He cited his own county OIL Chdu-
iauQua an example 49,, .....,,,
the farmers Institutes in twenty-seven counties in
This State. and in only two Instances had ne me- me-
with opposition. He spoke for the farre rs . ana
cave illustrations OF how they could be bonented
hv the passage of a Good Roads bill lie leletfeu1
10 the State AID act passed by NewrJersey' wr hsd
was done at the request of the farmers II ntu
proved 10 be decidedly advantageous IN maj
STATE il had been found that ii helped the SuuCd-
lion of children they were not prevented from
d Johnson Of Sngerlands, representing the
Albany County Farmers League, Favored the piI'
with the exception of the salary OF the Cofnihs-
General Stone favored the bill a citizen Of this
SAT- and as a Government official New-I ork ne
aid was AT the tail end OF the procession In this
movement The farmers were cut on from holIe
markets owing TO bad roads. The present s!Stem
was radically wrong and was brought from his-
land 200 years ago. .,.,x 10 had o.
tended Of the assachusetts Highway commission
Where about twenty farmers appeared win psti-
lions for the extension OF good roads. lie lol-
lowed with a brief history OF the movement III that
ment from the start. He said Ne%-l ork peoPie
were going over 10 New jersey and ConnecticuI 10
live on account Of the improved highways me
iority of the wheelmen Of this State were tax
PAYERS. and numbered about 2poW. ana every one
Of them was a good roads advocate
y G Spaulding representing The state Farmers
Congress next spoke on the bill ana salq that az
q farmer he was in favor of IL. Abram hyatt OF
WESTMINSTER County appeared because his business
v'as NJ such a ma tlre that he knew the feasibility
Westchester County mainly on account or the
good roads