New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-28
USE AND ABUSE OF ROADS.

The abuse of Fifth-ave. in making it thor
oughfare for all sorts of business traffic from all
parts OF the city is only one manifestation of n
widespread and often most Illogical abuse OF
public highway privileges and of marked
change In the disposition of large part of the
public toward modern improved roads. 1t will
be remembered that when the first asphalt
pavements We're laid in this city there were In
Vulnerable protests against them, especially by
the owners and drivers of heavy vehicles. They
We're denounced slippery and unsafe for
horses drawing heavy loads. They might do for
light driving but 1t would be impera lively neces
sary to maintain system OF stone paved streets
throughout the city for business traffic. Now
Fifth-ave is paved with asphalt, while other
parallel avenues are paved with stone blocks.
Yet In exact contradiction 10 their former pro-
testatiOns nine-tenths OF the truckmen will
leave the stone paved avenues and go block
or two out of their way for the sake of driving
upon the asphalt paved Fifth-ave. Are they
thus guilty of wanton cruelty to their horses?
Or do they thus signify their recantation of
their former most positive convictions upon the
subject of safe and unsafe pavements?
A similar circumstance may be recalled by
those who remember the beginning Of good
roads construction in New-Jersey. When the
pioneer macadamized road was built, from Irv-
tests against it from ultra conservative farmers,
who objected not only to the cost they expected
ii would impose upon Them but to the useless
ness of the road Perhaps II would do for light
driving, they said, but it would never do for
heavy teaming. 1t would be ruinous to their
horses feet. If It We're built self respecting
farmer would think of using 1t. Well, 1t
was built and in short time thereafter the
average farmer with heavy load to cart would
go considerable distance out of his way for
the sake of getting upon it. Doubtless precisely
the same thing has occurred in the case of many
other improved roads in other parts of the coun-
try OF course, such change of opinion is to be
commended as a sane recognition of the benefits
of improved roads.
Equally notable, though CT different charac-
ter is the abuse of roads to be observed in
various places in this city and elsewhere, espe
cially on two of the great parkways in the
Borough of Brooklyn. The fine Ocean Parkway
has at its west side cOmmOdous and well
paved parallel roadway for the use of business
wagons. which are excluded from the main
roadway That rule OF exclusion is however,
often wilfully violated without the least pos
sible excuse. But far more frequent are the
violations of the rule for the side road at the
east. That road Is unpaved. and consists OF
soft earth. being intended solely for equestrans.
Ar frequent intervals along Ii are conspicuous
signs proclalming II TO be bride road only and
fOrbidding the use of vehicles upon II. Yet 1t
would be safe to say that 1t is used for vehicles
Of all sorts three times as much as for horse
back riding. Heavy vehicles and light are
driven on II every day without let or him
drance, apparently out OF pure cussedness';
for why should men drive on soft earth, into