The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-19
STATE AID G ROADS
ARMsTRONG'S PLAN HAs THE Gov
ERNOR'S APPROVAL.

n Provides That ths state VIII ray Half the
Cost or hny specific Improvement, the
Ceunty and Towu 20 raw tho other HALF
hit to 10 introduced In y short Tinnr,
ALBANY, Jan. 1s.-Asscmblyman Armstrong
Of Rochester has had several conferences with
Gov. Black on the subject of good roads loRisla.
ton and tho bill which will DO introduced with
the prestige Of executive sanction beforehand
is practically completed. In his first annual
message Gov. Black strongly urged legislation
on this subject and a good roads bill was intro
duced by Mr.. Armstrong last year which had
the approval OF tho state Orange, the Coed
Roads Association and the League OF American
Whoelmen. Nothing was done with II because
of two features to which Gov. Black objected.
It provided for the appointment of a State Com.
missioner, and the Governor set his face stends
tasty against all propositions to create new
state offices last year. Tn" bill also provided
for raising the money to bo expended by the
State by increasing the tax rate. Tho Governor
made 1t known that no would not sign tho bill
unless both'of these features wore eliminated.
This years bill, as originally prepared by the
three organizations contained the Same featured.
It was arranged that they should no discussed
with Gov. Black by representative OF those
associations early this week. As these gentlo-
mon have not been able to get here yet Mr..
Armstrong intends to modify the bill In accord.
hnCo WIN tue tOVernOr 3 lueaB ana introduce "
at once. The changes can BIO ratified by tho or.
CARNATIONS hereafter.
'"The central idea said Mr.. Armstrong to-
day, about. which the good roads, movement
will encourage the counties to improve the
roads and at the rame time will leave tho int
some Of the Bills Which u Rave been introdacei
provide that tho State shall bear the whole eH:
create jealousy among the oounties as to w6ers
the money should be spent; MY bill proposes
mon sno on loe It's yro %ns' a nsi' t be Si the stats az sp VIII
meet rnni,n 1T half wi,S and spend an equal amount In
The bill will place the work under the con-
troll of either tho State Engineer and surveyor.
or the state Superintendent Of Public Works.
comparatively small sum for the first year.
say 100000 or.$55. 900, in ordor.to soc whether:
the counties Are disposed to take advantage OF
Under he bill tho Board Of Supervisors Of
any county. may express to the proper state
officer n desire to have o certain road improved.
II a majority OF The property owners .ai9ng any
do so. Tho State Engineer, IL he is finally
selected, will then consider whether the road 70
# h sSi approSG pu tao p i%p2hr e %iii p pPe stst spo eli:
cations FOR the work and forward them to tho
Sup ,Sry "TsroT They m, may ud reject a,, the &c plan on n;,5 5Ss
tho official engineer Of the locality, If there 10
one. or 4 not, under the state Engineer. One
paid BY the State. fhirty.ayss per cent. is:to 5s
paid By By , the county, tsISas and 1b 1s ' Ese r SsG'; ra ~ the he
means of q special assessment.
The great difficulty with good roads bills here-
tofore has been the opposition Of the rural coun-
tics, but it is believed that this will be overcome
by the offer of the State to spend as much as
tho locality, and on the other hand, the ADAM
donment OF the project for roads built entirely
on money raised by State taxation.
Mr.. Armstrong computes that o property
valuation is 81 .OOO. 600. and in a county who's,
valuation is &c., 600, 900. would have to paw
Sl.97 to secure the expenditure within his
county or $4,000 annually. Under the pres
emit highway system he would have to pay or
work out $3.50 without much o. anything to
show for IL,