The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-03-10
FOR HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT.
State Commissioner Macdonald Ar
ranging for the Work.

State Commissioner Macdonald Ar
ranging for the Work
| State Highway Commissioner Mac
donald is busily engaged these days In
arranging for road Improvement about
the state this spring. He has sent the
following circular letter to the select
ment of the various towns:
| Gentlemen-I have received quite a
number of communications from Sc
| lectmen Of towns that are entitled I'M
der chapter ITS, public acts of 1899, to
| three-fourths of the balance of the
money remaining in my hands for road
| Improvement, asking what was to be
done with the money that has not been
allotted to towns last year, and the OBJ
ject of this circular letter will be to
answer that question.
On August 9. 1892 I apportioned to
lis towns in the state all of the money
placed in my hands with the exception
of about $4,000.
This amount of money 1 purpose this
year to give access to the fifty-three
towns that did not apply last year.
Your town is one of thirty-one towns
that has not as yet received an appro-
priation
My experience as commissioner, from
the commencement of the good roads
movement down to the present time has
satisfied me that all towns in the state
desire betterment Of their roads, but
they find that they are financially I'M
able to spend any more than the regu-
lar amount Of money that they have
been in the habit of spending, for the
reason that they do not like to increase
the taxes Of the town.
This is one of the arguments that I
hear, and the other is, that the state
will require a much more expensive
method of road Improvement than has
been their custom heretofore. And be-
ing confronted with an increase in
taxes on one hand, and an expensive
system or method of construction on the
other, they have been deferred from
taking advantage of the good roads
law.
In both respects the reasons advanced
are not tenable. The attitude of the
state wherever an opportunity has
been had to explain it. has been found
to be solely and exclusively liberal in
the extreme.
The character Of the road in its
treatment and in it's constructions I'M
der state management, will be found in
every instance to go hand in hand with
the best interests of the town.
In our small towns where the grand
lists are not large the policy of the
state is to use the money in widening
out the roads. cutting down the hills
filling uD swamp holes and taking
boulders out of the road and out of the
cutters, and where good gravel is to be
found graveling the roads.
All Of these features of road improve
ment are being practiced by the towns
themselves without state assistance;
therefore no injury can come to the
town that receives an appropriation of
So for every 81 spent by the town in the
way suggested.
Since | have been commissioner I
have found very hearty spirit of CO.
operation in my work on the part of
the selectmen of the state, and the very
best results have many times been at
tanned with an appropriation not ex-
ceeding $780,
| am so well convinced by my expert
ence in attending town meetings that a
visit on my part is helpful to
the TOWNS in explaining the law, and
telling what the state will do, that it
is my purpose to visit all Of the thirty
one towns If they so desire, and explain
the law and everything connected with
the good roads movement as carried ON
by the state.
The small amount of money remain
ing in my hands will preclude the pos
sibility of any town passing a vote in
excess of $1,000.
OF course the towns can pass a vote 4
for any amount under this sum and re-
ceive three fourths from the state. In
other words, should your town desire to
spend $500 in some part Of the town, or
in any road improvement, the state
will contribute 1915 of this amount, and,
Of course, the same ratio with any vote |
you may pass will prevail.
l enclose you a copy of the resolu- |
ton which you can fill out and pass,
that will fulfill all legal requirements. |
And so that I may have ample time to |
visit the towns I will designate the |
first day Of June, 1900 as the final day
FOR towns to apply for state assistance.
also enclose you copy of the law
If you desire to communicate with me
upon any question concerning this
matter I shall be very glad to hear
rom you.
Last year it was impossible for me to
attend all of the meetings requesting
ny presence as many of them occurred
IN the same day. This matter can be
very easily remedied by prearrange-
nent.
Very respectfully yours,
James Fl. Macdonald,
Highway Commissioner