New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-26
FOE ROAD IMPROVEMENT.
WHAT WILL BE UNDERTAKEN AT AL
BANY THIS WINTER.
4 pn, PROVIDING FOR A STATE HIGHWAY COM
MISSION TO BE PUsHED-A TALK WITH PRES
lpENT ISAAC y. POTTER-ush of

| A III -
MISSION TO BE PUsHED-A TALK WITH PRES
,prNr ISAAC B. PoTTER-UsE OF
CoNvICTs IN MAKING ROADS
! v.,u, d.ep,e plans for good roads Legislation
IN this S,ate have not yet been fully agreed on j
/ can he stated positively that an earnest enort VII
no made 10 push through one or more biils on inc
subiect at the coming session OF the Legislature
Similar efforts have been made for several winters
at Albany but thus far the inertia TO be overcome
has been sufficient to prevent single advance
step although last year the bill on when at'en'
ton was finally concentrated after passing the
Senate failed in the Assembly by only three votes
This was not the bill which the friends or roac
Improvement wished 10 have enacted. but 1t seemed
10 be the only measure which had any chance OF
getting majority. II passed. 1t would have beer
merely an entering wedge" as II provided iof
the division of each town into at least three ROAD
districts by the Town Commissioner OF highways
and gave that official power TO make contracts ioi
repairing and maintaining the roads in each dis
trict. This would not have insured good ROADS on
the desired large scale. but 1t would have wiped
out one the chief obstacles 20 rational road I'M
provement-namely. the existing system or work
Ing out road taxes by the farmers In the rural dis
trlcts.
The BIZ providing for State Highway Commits
sion, which was Introduced by Senator Higbe LAST
winter not reported out of committee 1t is
in behalf OF a bill of this character that hard work
Will be done this winter and the measure VIII nave
the active support OF the State Division OF the
League Of American Wheelmen. Isaac b. Potter.
president of the League when called on at his
Office in the Potter Building by representative OF
The Tribune one day last week. said. In answer to
questions:
Yes. the League Of American Wheelmen Is 60
ing TO all is influence to secure legislation for
good roads from the Legislature Of 1905 and / am
very hopeful that shall succeed. II we do not
It will not be for lack of trying. We will not be
satisfied with snch measure as the one which
failed pass the Assembly last winter by the
narrow margin OF three votes. and which simply
provided for The abolition of the system of working
out read taxes. That system will so fast enough
when have got the idea Of good roads
firmly established.
A HIGHWAY COMMISSION WANTED
Prom my study OF the question ! am convinced
that we cannot do better than TO establish state
Highway Commission similar to the one which has
done much good work in Massachusetts.
know that there is some opposition TO the creation
OF any commissions. but | know also that
the Highway Commission IN Massachusetts is tho
most popular body in that State There are three
Commissioners and they busy ali the time.
At any time when you go into their of.ce YOU Will
find men there from all parts of the state, eager
get the benefit Of the states assistance in the
construction of good roads.
1T IL said by some that this matter might well
ne put III y" HdildS OF the state Engineer. Inc
state Engii eor however. mas good deal to attend
10. especially with the large amount OF work that
ance that win an official elected every two years
should get a man familiar with road constitute
/ believe thar ought to have a Commission OF
three members. appointed by the Governor terms
only one member should expire In any year. This
viii insure continuity N thg policy OF the Commis-
moving any member who does not prove TO be the
THE initiative IN the building OF State roads
should be Gli 70 the counties or TO he peoPe i'm,
medately interested. Whenever ne Board of
road, on account Of its position. character and
commercial importance. should be- improved. 1T It
the Commission will make a survey and examina-
the opinion OF The Supervisors the road viii Dee i'm
proved the state paying one-third Of the cost. the
county One-thrd and the town one.third. Or, II a
irg on any road should petition me Commission for
and good road bu 6cn the SGG m
instead Of the town should pay one-th'i Of the
cost This Is substantially the scheme which We
have in view. and. as said before. every effort
will be made TO get II law providing fc- these
things enacted"
THE EMPLOYMENT OF CONvICTs
When asked about the use of convict labor in
road-build!ng Mr.. Potter said it war probable
that that question wouli be brought before the
Legislature In another bill.
II think" he added tina: a measure will he In
PRODUCED providing that when any county requests
the use OF convicts in building roads the number
asked for should Ne furnished for the time needed
the county agreeing 10 pay for their Transporter
ton ana u provide food and shelter FOR tho men OF
c1u-se, they would have TO be guarded but tho
one man with q rife can look after a good macy
unarmed men CT this class. Besides. II should be-
viii not have another opportunity to worh outside
OF the prison walls Cor six months or a year Tho
men would thus be on their good behavior and they
would wecOme the chance to 20 out where Tho.
could see the green fields and hear the bird sing
I a IL al in .la I'll
a.f ,het, a. no H. sb S mars M pe'ias say
convict garO working In sight Of the public there
are two things to De said one Is tina. It Is far
to Know that they are idle in the prisons. wh"ro
idlen7ss Is worse for their minds than +, Is for
able to get roads built 10y the use Of convict i5lt
for 1880 mile" while the adjoining count where
will not be Jng before the prejudice disnppcirs.
SO you may say THAI this matter viii proba biz be-
bin giving the counties the option Of cmDlovinr
convict labor on the highways, ana / think such
Fe,te4 F'S Sd " faTn .! 9G G< b "e
hc bs now befo Gongrc d6 to for of
establishment OF posta-savngs syst.m-an
as 10 what use the Government should make Of The
large amount Of money likely 10 be placed In the
ence should be given to Investments in county
bonds issued for the purpose Of improving roads.
money IN circulation in the rural communities.
rom from wn n ARG portion OF te SAVINGS depose
be required to issues OF county bonds lt II
would not be difficult for the Government officials
to assure themselves That the investments were
sound and safe.
VIEWS OF MESSRS. WRAY AND LAIMBEER
Senator Albert A. Wray. who has been absorbed
In important legal case for the last three or
four weeks. has not yet had time to work ont I'm
detail his plan for cooperation between the State
and National governments In the construction OF
interstate highways. He deems II practicable how
ever and expects 10 introduce bill the subtcc,
at the next session In the general subject good
roads he feels deep interest, and bills to promote
their construction VIII. he says, have his hearty
support He thinks the people of the rural districts
are ort-sighted in falling to take advantage of
the present strong sentiment In the cities In favor
Of lettering the highways
Why" said the senator "all the opposition 10
tho bills which have been before the Legislature
has from the country members while the
bills have been warmly supported by the city mem
bers This seems unaccountable, since It IL the
: raln ~ 10. MT rI.nlnta H.