The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-02-21


great advantages of good over poor
roads are so apparent as to need no
mention it will be Il matter of econ
omy in the smaller towns to pay a
small proportion of the cost of good
road construction, rather than to con-
tinue the present system of maintain
ing what at best are in many cases in
different if not absolutely poor high
ways.
The committee has given serious con-
sideration Of the question of discrim-
ination in favor of towns of grand
list of less than $1,OOO,OOO. If, in the
judgment of the general assembly,
such discrimination should be made,
then our recommendation is that the
cost of improved highways for towns
with a grand list of $1000,000 or over,
and three-fourths for those whose
grand list is less than $1O0o,000.
We believe that experience has DEM
onstrated that it is always advisable
that there shall be in matters Of gov
eminent or administration RESPONSE
BILE head to which proper recognition
of we'll performed duties may be made,
or to which INSTRUMENTATION may be
charged, as the case may be. We there
lure IGCOIIllIlcllu olllS liCeld W IAiS
roads commission, that there may be
no shifting or evasion of responsible
ty Suitable inspection of work as it
progresses, and we recommend that
this supervision be under state control,
both for economic reasons and because
this only can insure practical supervis-
ion and best results.
A large saving in cost of contruc-
ton may be effected by authorizing the
commissioner to consent to individual
contracts by towns amounting in the
whole to the full allowance of the
towns appropriation for the current
and the next ensuing year, whenever
the town shall advance to the contract
or the moneys required for the pay
ment of that portion of the appropria-
ton which otherwise would have been
made in the second year. In such a case
the payment of the state appropria-
ton should be divided and paid by the
state as though said work had been
done in the two years separate appro-
priation.
In many sections of the state the re-
duction of the grades of highways is
a matter of great Importance, and we
recommend that with the approval of
| the commissioner, state aid in the
same proportion as In road construc-
ton be furnished the towns for the
purpose of such reduction.
We also recommend that the matter
of survey in cases of reduction or
change of grade, with an estimated
cost not exceeding $500 for such change
or reduction, be left with the commits
sioner, such survey to be dispensed
with by him in his discretion.
Provision should be made so that
where in the opinion of the selectmen
and the commissioner telford road
is more practical, and it's construction
more desirable than macadam such a
telford road may be constructed
Bids for road construction should be
opened in the presence of the select
men and the commissioner, and the
award made by their joint action.
In view of past experience the COM
mittee recommends an annual appropri-
alton by the state of two hundred and
fifty thousand dollars for the purposes
of road improvement. We believe that
this sum will be fairly adequate for the
next two years, and that this appropri-
alton can be met from the state treasu-
ry without resorting to a state tax, or
to the issuance of bonds to either of
which recourse should not be had unless
unavoidable
This sum, with the amount to be add |
ed by the towns, will build upwards OF |
eighty miles of road each year, and |
leave about thirty thousand dollars to |
other towns for the reduction of grades,
and for the expenses of administration.
If the above appropriation is contin-
ued from year to year. we may expect
that within twenty-five years the whole
state will be covered with a network of
modern roads.
We recommend that provision should
be made prohibiting selectmen of towns
from having any personal pecuniary in
terest in state road construction
The maintenance of improved high
ways Is nearly as important as their
construction, as travel and the weather
will develop slight defects in even the
best constructed, and unless proper re-
pairs are made in time, a costly high
way may become as rough and useless
as a back country road. 1t has come to
the knowledge of your committee that
some of the roads built under the law of
1895 have been wholly neglected by the
towns in which they are located. the
town authorities evidently assuming
that an improved highway ought to care
for itself. Neither the law of 1896 nor
that of 1897 make any provision for the
care of the highways after they are
built presuming that the towns would
care for them, as they would for roads ]
built entirely with the towns money.
1t certainly belongs to the towns to
,are for and maintain the roads built in i
part by money furnished by the state i
Should they fail to do that, the state 1
should take the matter in hand and
compel the towns to do their duty in the t
natter. t
Your committee recommend that the t
highway commissioner be instructed to {
inspect from time to time all highways
quilt in part by money furnished by the {
state. Should he find that proper re- ,
pairs are not being made upon the
anne, he should be authorized to notify
he selectmen of the town in which they I
re located to cause the same to be re- S
,aired forthwith in manner indicated /
W him. Should they neglect to comply t
With his orders, he should then go on /
nd repair the same, and charge the ex- a