The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-01-22
ABOUT GOOD ROADS PLANS,


Suggestions Made to the Commission
in Middletown-Scheme Presented by
Vice-President Calef Of the Fedora
ton of Cyclists-Ex- Commissioner
McDonad's Views--He Thinks Old
Law Better Than This.
AT meeting Of the state good roads
commission held In Mddetown in the
superior court room this week a plan
was outlined by S. P. Calef, the vice.
president Of the Connecticut Federation
of Cyclists, that struck the committee
as being most feasible. There were
present Senator Keeler, Representa-
tives Kenealy of Stamford, Hall of
Wellington, Hall Of Waterbury, Hutch
inson of Essex, Pendleton of Stoning-
ton and Sampson of Woodstock. Rep
resentative Hutchinson acted as secre-
tary. Selectman Kelsey of Clinton IA
vored good roads and thought that the
state should pay two-thirds of the ex-
pense and the towns one-third. He ia
vored the Idea of bonding the state.
Mahlon Pratt of Essex thought there
should be a law that would not be
burden on some towns as the present
law was. Towns should be allowed to
judge as to proper material to be used.
He thought Essex would be In favor of
bonding the state on long time bonds.
Mr.. Chapman of Westbrook favored
Lieutenant-Governor Dewells scheme
of bonding the state. He thought the
present law unjust.
Selectman James C. Pelton of Port
| land favored bonding the state for
good roads. Ex-Representative Asaph
jrY TT. q ~. 11%
million dollars would be enough to
| build the main roads of the state. He
| thought the small towns. which have a
| large amount of roads, should receive
| larger sum than the present law al
| lowed.
James T.. Inglis of Middlefield was in
| favor Of increasing the amount Of
good roads. The most feasible plan
would be to bond the state. A. N Pier
SON personally was in favor of bonding
the state if it would give good roads.
| Ex-State Highway Commissioner w.
| r. Mcdonald thought the state should
bear all the expense. He did not think
the present law as good as the first one.
The main lines should be built first.
The bonds should run fifty years and
sinking fund be created to retire them.
Selectman Pratt Of Essex favored
bonding the state and state supervi-
sion Of roads. This was also the opin-
| ion of Selectman Otis A. Smith of Mid
dlefield
e. H. Wilkins of the Connecticut di-
vision, League of American Wheelmen,
| favored one commissioner and five dep
uties and the issue Of five million dol
lars in thirty-year bonds. Towns
1 whose grand list was less than ten
thousand dollars for each mile of state
roads. for each dollar appropriated
should receive five dollars; from from
ten thousand to twenty thousand dol
| lars per mile, four dollars to leach dollar
| raised; twenty to fifty thousand dollars
| per mile, three dollars for each dollar;
/ fifty to one hundred thousand dollars
| per mile, two dollars for each dollar
over one hundred thousand dollars, dol
| lar for dollar. An equalized grand list
was to be used and the commissioner to
| have q chart Of all official distances.
He also advocated enforcing the wide
! tire law. He would create highway
fund by the annual state appropriation
| of two hundred thousand dollars, by a
direct tax on the state Of three-tenth
mill per year, this fund to be used to
maintain roads and form sinking
fund to redeem bonds when due.
Representative Briggs and Judge
Pearne Of this city also spoke in favor
| of good roads. Sheriff Brown said
Chatham would favor the states pay
ing all or nearly all of expense Of roads.
S. P. Calef, the vice-president of the
| Connecticut Federation Of Cyclists, was
the last speaker. He said that the fed
Grafton was preparing bill which 1t
would present to the committee. 1t
did not favor state tax, but long term
bonds and yearly appropriation to
pay interest on them and create a sink
ing fund The estate should loan mon
ey to the towns at per cent, taking
town bonds as security. The main
highways should be macadamized,
gravel being used on less travelled tho
roughfares. There should be three COM
missioners, not one. The wide-tire act
should be made compulsory in four or
five years. Representative Smith sug-
gested that this would be opposed by
the small towns, owing to the number
of vehicles, to which Mr.. Calef replied.
The hearing then adjourned.
The commission will meet in Putnam
two weeks from to-day.
|