New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-14
MORE WORK FOR GOOD ROADS
THE EFFORT TO SECURE LEGISLATION
WILL BE RENEWED AT ALBANY.

HOPING TO OVERCOME THE OPPOSITION OF THE |
RURAL MEMBERs-LAsr WINTERS FAILURE |
SENATOR wRAY WANTS THE NATIONAL
GOVERNMENT AND THE STATE TO CO
OPERATE IN MAKING ROADS
The question OF good roads did not cut any large |
figure in the recent campaign. but 1t is probable
that II will command a good deal Of attention at !
Albany In the course of the winter For several |
years plans for road improvement have been laid |
before the Legislature, but the sentiment in favor
OF better highways has not as yet manifested IT.
self with sufficient strength in the rural COM
munites to induce the members from the country
districts 10 labor zealously in behalf OF the meas
which have been proposed from time to time
On the contrary, the principal advocates OF bills
for improving the roads OF the State have been the
Senators and Assemblymen from the cities. and 1t
is possible that on this account certain preju-
dice against such bills has arisen In the minds
OF some members of the Legislature coming from
districts in which there no cities. There are
country people who look on good roads as lux
ury and who think city folks are in favor or
them because they wish TO drive and wheel over
them This is obviously mistaken view. for 1t Is
indlsputabe that the chief value OF system OF
good roads would accrue to the people OF the
community in which the roads are constructed
This idea however has yet TO find Judgment IN
many minds but with the results OF the establish
ment OF highways that are hard and smooth ana
ready for use at all seasons OF the year. "h'ch
are shown In States like New-Jersey ana Massa-
chusetts It Is reasonable to believe that II VIII
| not be long before the farmers Of New-forK wake
| I'D to the idea that good roads have money
value not only in the fact that larger loads can
be drawn over them. but also because lana stua'eo
near roads OF this description brings more "heh
put on the market.
| VALUABLE OBJECT LESSONS.
Such obtect-lessons are invaluable but the trou-
| BILE is to get them before the eyes OF the people
| who need them most Experience has taught 'ha'
| any large scheme for highway improvement III
this State certain be defeated, either through
| indifference or through the open opposition Vi
| those who ought to benefit most largely from us
| adoption , -,
| Two or three years ago a careful investigation OF
| the road problem was made by a committee OF the
| LEGISLATURE which examined the methods adopted
| 4, other States studied materials for road-makhs'
| and presented a report that was a Valuaoie Co''
| tributon to the literature OF the SUBJECT i"e
| chairman of that committee was Assemois"a'
| II,pbie OF Babylon Long Island who In the year
| IN which the investigation was made was eiecte"
| -, ,ho senate He "a still member OF that BODY.
and IN the Ipper House has carried on the crusaoe
| in behalf OF good roads with commendapie Aea'
and ability 1t Is expected that ne VIII De 'he io
| most champion Of the cause at the coming session
| Last winter Mr. Higbie introduced a bill In the
|
| after the manner OF the body when mas rehue'eu
| o.,,.r, service In Massachusetts. The same
| measure was Introduced in the Assembly by Hi,.
Armstrong who became famous by the ngnt wn'C az
10 made in 1896 10 secure the free carriage ~, ~,
htcyci e bv the railroads. and it was seneraIiy
known as the Higbie- Armstrong Dill % a ,,n,e
sfor e the end OF the session the measure Was
sbandoned by its friends for the reason tha, they
SOW ~- no % h b2ng TO vote Would be time thrown
aWay attention was concentrated bill
OF simple and rudmentary char n,sten Of
entitled Ss S TO p pSGposes s9 it had
law 1t would have put an emo Emo most Obnoxious
in're of the existing Systemic wit the work
Ing out OF road taxes by actual lapor Oh nav en
iSou, any Intelligent supervision. and solely WIN
the idea OF getting in certain nunSeT d o cash
| labor I'm lieu Of paying small tax III iia'u cash.
r,,,,1nIrc TOWNS INTO ROAD DISTRICTS.
Tho hill provdcd for the division OF each town IN
49,. s,o,a into NJ least three road districts by the
row, Commissioner OF Highways, and gave MN
noue, 20 make contracts for repairing ana man.
tanning the roads In each district Even tnls NM
measure stirred up opposition. but nevertheless -
passed the Senate and wthn 1nre gp in the
lower house II received 70 votes, pug 20 ~ roo
quirea 70 jrar his city who would have voted for
the bill II they had been present were not III '''e
The SS Of the bill may a SsDG
no attributed their neglect 10 De on mnnsIiIon
critical monasn SondeS nv kssemblyman Nixon. the
Republican leader who affirmed that the passase o.
the from the rural districts At any rate
this short step toward the desired ~ Working out
road taxes is still in force in the Empire S.asy
Whether the rural M tbe pet idea for
year remains TO he seen 49,. ,oromont IN behalf OF
The ppecIsf ugi'' assume in the Legislature this
49, docs not appear TO have been determines
IN NE oP and to the question the Legislature
ebonId 20 further than simply to abolish ne agos
syssSm Sr plan Tor general highway mproye
ment through the agency OF the s s,nar 70 tba,
dtresuon Oh While it should be left with the
in different Parts 9 9i sh good roads
should be built in any locality
SENATOR WRAPS IDEAS
Senator Albert A. Wray OF the Win D.'.,..a
ubo has taken good deal o. interest III measure
for improving the roads OF the state said one uay
lac, week that any bill having this object IN We"
which was brought before the LEGISLATURE '"'' VIII
Ter would have his cordial support ,ou O.,
am n1 h,i sum oH the subject myself Last winter
obteIned from General Roy stone the heao n OF
the Bureau o. Ire Koan number OF reports and other
documents bearing on the question o. amp CON-
10 hG plan of felnn nj and
MAT may be termed military or post re s,a 80 r SS
provide great hShTsy ysu ens TO-
lnstance, S,nst,onably be good thing. and II New
YORK taxes up PrSeaS cS road eSud
woulu LII ON through Ohio. Indiana and Illinois
Sed rG"4 all ms the w W be
YORK 10 his Kind from New-York to Philadelphia
| and Washington 80 ..,,,a IN 90, tho General
part in such d scheme s1o ON S
! count OF .ne - troons artillery. etc, in case OF
The state can we'll afford liberal expendi IN
var. ,ar mis- purpose for 1t Is now ehgageu III
ture 10. on n improvements while road improve
ro sns are even important to the entire co-
| murity. ,,o,r, that we shall accomplish
onohng in the way Of road legslation at sa ~
| the coming winter; III nv w, which farmers work out