The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1900-12-18
God Roads R6tss
SSistfts



eide from one end OF the State TO
the other upon roads built i'm each
county and made into n continuous
system through n well studied scheme
which state Road Commissioner Hen
" /. Budd has nurtured ever since no
has held the Office.
New Jerseys modern roads now
have total length OF one thousand
miles. which Is considerably i'm ex.
cess OF that OF any other state. while
I'VE hundred miles OF additional roads
have been applied for in excess of
those for which contracts have been
awarded
The project TO build these roads by
means OF State aid at the outset WINS
very unpopular. The movement was
started I'm one or two counties I'm the
southern part OF the State by n few
progressive farmers who had become
weary OF hauling their produce TO
market over roads often hub deem i'm
SAND or mud. II was next taken mn
by the Oranges, farmers clubs and
County Boards OF Agriculture and dis
cussed In all it's bearings. Next the
League of American Wheelmen lent
a hand and in connection with the
state Board OF Agriculture succeeded
IN securing the enactment of the first
state Aid law. This was I'm 1892 and
II was finally amended until the law
II 1893 was passed. which is the pres.
ent law. Originally the Boards of
Freeholders were compelled To order
the construction OF any road where the
necessary signatures OF the adjoining
property owners had been secured IN
the petition, and i'm the event of the
neglect or refusal of any OF these
boards to act. provision was made
Tor mandamus proceedings. which had
to be resorted to i'm Burlington County
at the outset. as the Board of Free
holders refused to award the contracts
to build the roads until compelled to
do so 10y the courts.
a year later those who most strong
~ opposed these roads were most ont
spoken I'm their favor. The result was
a number Of additional roads were con.
structed. and now Il is almost impossi
ole 10 satisfy the demand for extern
slons from all parts of the county.
thus New Jersey has the honor of be-
ing the first State successfully TO nor
suade the construction of public roads
ny appropriations from the State
treasury Heretofore they were built
and cared for at local expense. Their
supervision was under local authority
except where by special legislation
county authorities were empowered
to act. The money raised for their
construction and maintenance was by
taxes on the property I'm the town
ships through which they passed.
Inc state Aid act recognizes the fact
that the roads belong to the general
public, irrespective OF where they live
and that IL was not right for the local
authorities TO he taxed for the roads.
which are largely used 10y people trav-
cling long distances. so IL provides
that when property owners along n
certain road desire it's Improvement
two-thrds Of them shall petition the
freehoiders for it. agreeing thereby to
pay ten per cent. OF The cost. Upon
the acceptance OF this petition by the
Freeholders and it's approval by the
state Road Commissioner the State
VIII pay One-third and the county The
remainder OF the cost.
To State Road Commissioner Henry
j. Budd is largely due the credit for
these improvements. as ne has given
the subject his undivided attention
ever since his appointment 10 the
pace nearly six years ago In speak
ing of the great strides made i'm road
improvements throughout the country
in the last decade. Mr.. Budd said the
other day:
Any one who had predicted ten
years ago that we would have such
q complete system or roads as we have
now would have been looked upou
as visionary. Remember. the rood
movement was not begun until 1872
The first road was built I'm Middle.
sex County, from old Bridge 10 Mai
avian. distance Of about FIVE miles.
burlington County next made appllca.
ton for a road. but ~ was bitterly ON
posed. on the ground that II Womb
Increase taxation Litigation followed
resulting In decisioqn i'm favor Of
the road. To-day the people are al
most unanimously i'm favor Of good
roads and In the county to-day tner,
are about 10 miles Of road. the re-.
suit Of St0te aid. At the close Of this
year Atlantic County will have about
thirty-three miles Of improved rond.
Camden, fOrty-fve; Essex. sixty.
Gloucester. forty; Mercer. sixty.four.
Middlesex, eighty; Monmouth. forty.
SIX Morris thirty; Passaic. thirty.
salem ten; Somerset, twenty.seven.
ana Burlington. 115.
In lS93'0i the state built seventy.
hve miles Of road; in 1895. fortv.slx
miles; 1896. fifty-one miles: 1907. six.
~ six miles; 1898, eighty four and one.
balf miles. ana IN 1899. 115 miles. The
total amount expended I'm rood con.
struction by the state and counties
up TO this year was SPOOL 40. and
during the current year over 100000
will be expended"
Good Roads.
More. perhaps. than the bicycle and