The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-01-07
HIGHWAYS OF THE STATE


Many Interesting Facts lin Regard to
the Roads of Connecticut-Progre In
the Movement Daring the Past -Four
Years-ValunbleH Hints as to the Most
Practical Methods of Road Making
How the state Appropriation is Used
Fl. Macdonald of this city has just is
sued his fourth annual report which
contains many interesting facts in re-
gard to the movement for good roads in
Connecticut. Attention is called to the
fact that there has been in the past
year but little change in the conditions
confronting the movement for good
roads from those existing during the
previous year, except the addition to
the number of towns taking their first
appropriations, wide knowledge of
technical construction and an increased
sentiment for good roads. There were
in the state during the past year las
sections of roads on which improve
ments were being made and with so
large a field to cover it Is stated in the
report that the inspection could not be
as thorough as the work demanded. In
regard to inspection the report says:
The only remedy available where there
was any doubt in regard to the road be-
ing properly constructed was the with
holding of approval by the commission
err for some time after the contractor
had notified him of the fulfillment of his
contract The character of the roads
built and accepted during the past two
years has suggested by their improved
condition, that tardy approval is
sometimes of great benefit to the road,
and insures more perfect construction
by the contractor in the roads he may
have TO build in the future.
In the opinion of the commissioner
the privilege of allowing any town in
the state to use it's appropriation for
grading purposes alone has been at
tended with gratifying results.
Of the use of gravel roads the re-
port says:
Town after town has accepted state
aid and made handsome and first-class
gravel roads. Gravel banks have been
discovered and purchased by towns
that did not know of their existence
or if they did, failed to take advantage
was made clear that they could have
the privilege of laying a gravel con-
struction. These gravel banks will yield
to these towns greater interest for
the money invested than money depos-
tied in the savings bank. Quite num-
Der of towns started with a very small
appropriation as an experiment, which
has resulted in some of the most ex-
,fr
to be found in the state in road build
ing. The contract system found in many
of the towns is pernicious and extrava-
CANT, thousands of dollars are wasted
with no return for the money expended.
If the value of the gutter wash scraped
back so many times on your roads was
to be determined by what it has cost
the towns of the state ton of the rich
est product of a Klondike mine would
not be worth a shovelfull of these
scrapings. If every town in the state of
Connecticut were to scrape off or cart
away all of this worn out material and
pat the plough right into the banks and
get some good live material and
put that back on the roads in place of
the gutter wash that had been made so
long to do service, not one mile but
hundreds of miles in the state of Connec-
ticut would be so much improved that
it would not be necessary to put other
material on the roads to make them
first-class to travel on.
The commissioner notes as follows
the dierence in appearance of roads in
the state. GAS I ride over the roads of
the state I cannot help noticing the
difference in the appearance of the roads.
Some towns clear away the brush on
the margins and banks between the
road and the fences, thus giving an air
of neatness and thrift, and also allow
ing for the widening of the road, the
Strengthening and cleaning out of the
water courses. The margins of the roads
thus treated quickly cover themselves
with a strong and luxuuriant growth
of grass, the wild flowers that
have been struggling for life have ac-
cess to the sunlight they love so well,
and come up with vigorous growth,
their rich bloom helping to beatuify and
make pleasant heretofore dreary and
unattractive roadside.
In other towns, perhaps the adjon-
ing one, find the bushes growing right
up out Of the shoulders Of the road, and
after rain or heavy dew I have had
many an involuntary bath by the limbs
striking my buggy and relieving them
selves of their moisture. A road thus
neglected and allowed to grow wild |
is almost impossible to improve, cutters
quickly form in the middle of the road,
outlying out and making deep toe |
path, and only suggest as the reason for
having the gutter there that it is cheap |
er to take care of one gutter than to |
take care of two. This is, however, not |
general in any town as very many
farmers go out and clear away the
brush in front of their property. A law
should be enacted making it obligatory
to cut down all brush between the
fences on the highways.
I am not an enemy to shade trees
on the roadside, but, on the contrary
believe a system of tree planting on
our country roads will not only beau
tify and adorn, but also give comfort
to both man and beast by their CRATE
full shade. Trees are also helpful in
keeping the road from drying out and
in a semi moist condition, which is
necessary not only for the comfort and
convenience of those using the road on
Of I,1ct I,1t ole fri1