The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-01-08
ITEMS FOR THE WlIEELMEN
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR DEWELL'S
 GOOD ROADS PLAN.

To Bond the State for Highway Improve ment-The Bicycle In winter-A Practi- cal Illustration of the Value of the Road Book.
 Lieutenant Governor James D. Dewell of New Haven is enthusiastically in favor of the good roads movement. He was at the recent Waterbury meeting and gave expres sion to his views, and he has written to Chief Consul P. W. Westlake outlining his project for highway improvement more In detail This letter, which gives the first comprehensive view of the situation from financial standpoint, Is as follows: New Haven, Conn, Dec. A. 1897. Mr. Philip w. Westlake, Box g. Bridgeport, Conn.,:
 Dear Sir-I am in receipt of your favor of the 2d inst My argument before the good roads commission was extemporaneous en- tirely, with exception of the computation made for issuing bonds, copy of which enclose herewith. I do not favor the uso of the school fund for improvement of high ways. That fund is well invested and draw tug rate of interest not less than Q per cent, some are at 6 per cent, and, besides, l think that should be kept separate from should also be kept separate, and, should the next legislature grant permission which hope and believe 1t will, to bond for three millions to five millions, the bonds to be B- sued should be designated as Highway I'm provement Bonds'
 g The argument made before the commit tee was In the same line as that before the in '95 l think great advance has been made In educating the people up to this great necessity of having good roads, You, perhaps, will remember that in the legisla- ture of '93 we were, strange to say, some what handicapped by reason of the cooper ation of the League of American Wheelmen. savors to the wheelmen, claiming that they were mostly from the cities and they ought not to be compelled to build roads in the country to accommodate ''clty dudes, In the legislature of 95 by the wheelmen taking no active part before the commit tee, as we all thought that the better way The conditions now are changed and the l country people are all getting wheels, the boys and the girls are going to school on them, and they all begin to see the neces- town to town should have attention frst,l
 I feel that to do this. work properly the state should spend at least i've hundred thousand dollars per annum for the next ten years, certainly for the next five years. So much better work can be done by doing 1t in a wholesale way, hence my figures on bonding will show that 1t will cost no more and do 1t quickly than to be spending one hundred thousand dollars per annum and only doing small amount each year,
 has been hard struggle tbe Pem ne towns are afraid of taxation. We cannot expect to get what you and want without Issuing bonds or or else laying direct tax , than the former, hence decide to work on the bond plan. will cooperate in any way can with you people and you may rest assured that am in this to stay. I will mt hnSif0tn fO d0 an6 All thinNS which are reasonable to bring about the greatly desired road improvement. Our meeting at Waterbury was a good one and much. testimony was given by those who use the, highways, and every one wEo addressed the committee was favorable to the bonding plan with one exception, and I talked with beforehand, and the matter fully explained, would not have taken quite so conservative view of the situation.
 I proposed also that the towns bear no more than one-quarter or one-third the cost and the state to loan the towns not able to < build sum sufficient at per cent; such 2 plan, would enable the poo; towns to en under the present plan of repairing. We found at Waterbury one good level headed farmer, MT. David Hotchklss of Prospect who strongly favored the bonding said by its operation his town would have better roads at less cost than under the present system. Had I the time would attend every meeting of the state commission, and hope to take in one or two more if not out of the state
 In the session of '97 the opponents to good roads made boasts that the law of '95 would be repealed and state aid for high ways knocked out; but you see they got left We are bound to win only keep the ball rolling.
 am pleased to receive your communica- tion and hope you will write again if you wish any information which I can give.
 Very truly yours,
 JAMES D. DEWELL.
 Mr. DewplPS nlanS are AS f0JlOwS.
 First Method.
 50 Year84 Per Cent Gold Bonds
 On each issue of 5000, ,000:
 Annual interest payment. ........,. $15, 900 Annual sinking fund payment (sink-
 ing fund investments to yield, say
 per CeHI.... 4,3O4 rra+.,onr,,,, oas+ e1o oo1 With s5,ooo, 900 bonds outstanding:
 Annual interest .t..................$1 .$150, 900 Annual sinking fund .............. 43,04O Iotal ........... ........... $l93, O40 The second method obviates the necessity for a sinking fund, which at best involves some hazard In the matter of Its admins tration by the sinking fund trustees It Is as follows:
 Second Method.
 Or issue. say $500,000 bonds, as follows: