The suburban citizen., 1900-01-27
9lof5Io10tl0FoNe7S7I7lo' l0F5l5lol5'5l5l
S GOOD ROADS NOTES, /
Hal0f90elel9oi9l09aIa 9N9le9Gle9E
Good Hlrhwnrs Needed.


AS the country becomes more
thickly settled the importance Of good
roads is more fully realized. The
rapid building up of cities aud large
manufacturing towns has drawn 80
heavily upon many of the country
towns that it has created an inequality
between the cities aud country towns.
The latter cannot afford to keep their
roads in as good condition as the
others. Where there are a few coun-
try towns between two large cities or
large towns, there is a constant COM
plant because the towns do not fur
nish good roads.
A large, fourishing town can build
good roads without very greatly in
creasing its taxes, but small country
town cannot make extensive repairs
on its roads without raising taxes so
high that they will not only be bur-
densome to the farm ers, but will have
the effect of driving out what few men
of large means they may have living
temporarily with thern. 1t is becom-
ing very serious question as to what
changes are required TO secure better
roads. That our roads will be greatly
improved during the next decade,
there can be no doubt, because the
interests of the people demand it.
Where the money is to come from to
improve the roads in the country
towns with scattered population is
q question to be settled. 1t is certain
that if the repairs are to be very ex-
tenslve, the money to make them
must come from outside-but if what
money is raised in the country towns
was more judiciously expended the
roads would be gradually improved.
If shaly rock can be found near the
line of road it can be prohtably used
in road making 1t should be broken
up and pounded down so as to make
an even and compact roadbed. Under
existing circumstances it is difficult
to find men who are adapted to the
business of road building, because to
build a good road in the cheapest and
best manner is an art that compare
lively few men have learned. 1t seems
highly desirable that the question OF
how to obtain good roads should be
taken into careful consideration by
the highest State authorities, and a
plan should be adopted which shall
give us good public thoroughfares.-
American Agriculturist.
Improvements Under the Law of 1893.
The annual report of State Engineer
Bond, of New York. has just been filed
at Albany. The improvement of high
ways under the provisions of the
Higbie-Armstrong act of 1898 consti
tutes an important part of the duties
of the State Engineer and is one
which attracts much public interest
The State has appropriated 500, ,00C
in all, with which to pay one-hRlf the
cost of such roads as are improved un
der the provision of the law. This
sum is small in proportion to the
amounts appropriated by the States
of Massachusetts and New Jersey, bu
with it contracts have been made fol-
twenty-five miles of improved high
ways, of which seven miles on -four
roads have been finished and accepted
during the year. Six and half miles
on one road is about finished, but il
not accepted, and eleven miles or siZ
roads are in progress, these roads be
ing located in Erie, Monroe, Onon
daga, Schnectady, Oneida, Rensselaer,
and Columbia Counties. Surveys
have also been made for 142 miles o.
roads in fourteen counties, which are
expected to be improved when provis
ion is made therefore by the Legisla
ture. The highways which have Sc
far been improved have necessarily
been comparatively short pieces, rang
ing from one-half mile to six miles il
length. These serve as examples to
the people in the various localities,
with the immediate result that many
petitions are received from the coun
ties in which roads have been built
There is a general expectation tina
tho Legislature will make appropria
tions which will bear some comparison
to those made for road work by the
neighboring States.
The average cost of the highways
improved so far was $7074 mile, but,
with the new features of construction
suggested, the cost will be between
$4,000 and $4,000 mile. Even this
increased cost will be twenty per cent
less than the cost of similar roads in
Massachusetts,.
Recommendation will be made ia
the Legislature to add to the Highway
law provision Tor the maintenance ol
improved highways by the county Of
ficials, and to provide for a State
quarry of trap rock, where convicts
from Sing Sing Prison can be en-
ployed in producing crushed stone for
highway improvement.
Benefit of Good Roads to Farmers.
The argument used on the farmers
TO favor some measure for good roads
in their respective States is the esti-
mated cost of transporting farm prod
ucts over poor roads. The estimate
emanates from the United States De-
partment of Agriculture and was furn-
ished to Otto Dorner, of Milwaukee,
Wis. 1t is estimated that the cost