New-York tribune., 1901-06-02
PLANS FOR GOOD ROADS.
CONTRACTS INVOLVING S5O0,0OO SOON
TO BE LET-E. H. HARRIMANS
IMPROVEMENT COMPANY.

ALBANY June 1 (SpeciaD.-"Road Improvement
said State Engineer Bond to-day, "is no longer
matter of sentiment but one of ways ana means
In other words the chief thing to be consloereu -
the obtaining of money
State Engineer Bond did obtain this year d larger
State appropriation for road Improvement than
was ever granted before. The successive otaee @
appropriations for this purpose have oeeh: ESQ
$50 600; 1S99 1900; 1SO0 Sl50ooO and lS1l' Sf-V'
As soon as Mr. Bond informed by Governor
OdeH and the leading Republican members OF the
legislature that they would grant his application
this year for $4,000, he prepared his aoVeruSe
ments for bids for the contracts for ROAD improve
ment in a good many of the counties of the state.
Bids were afterward asked for the improvement OF
thirtv-six roads These proposals were opened a
few days ago. and the State Engineer and MS as
sistants have been busy for several days eXsIlih-
ing them 1t was thought to-day that about twenty
contracts would be awarded. involving the expend-
iture it is estimated by the State of about S@0oOo
of the $42OO0O The counties will expend similar
amount that contracts involving SScOUoO 1or rOau
Improvement will soon be made.
The contracts for roads in the counties OF
Rensselaer, Chenung. Ulster, Montgomery. Fulton
Westchester, Delaware. Albany. Orange. Broome'
OpOndaga. Clinton, Saratoga and Monroe, and tney
involve the Improvement of over one hundred miles
of road State Engineer Bond is also busy at this
time arranging the details of what may be consid-
cred a national conference upon road Improvement
the Pan-Amercan Exposition in Buffalo in
either August September. He recently wrote to
the Governors of all the States sounding them as
their Willingness to appoint delegates TO attend
the proposed conference Many of the Governors
have responded favorably to this suggestion. An
other OF Mr. Bonds correspondents on this subject
at this time is W. II. Moore. of Chicago. president
of the National Good Roads Association His CO.
operation has been promised.
F. H. HARRIMAN'S PLAN.
What especially desire to see" said Mr.. Bond.
rs towns undertaking the work of road improve
ment. Then they will buy road improvement ma
chinery which will enable them to keep the roads
in repair when they are once made. BY towns
undertaking the work of road Improvement mean
their becoming their own contractors. The Town
Board Of the town OF Shandaken. IN Ulster County,
has just bid for the work upon the State road
proposed in that town. and the contract will be
awarded to it
One Of the most interesting developments in the
road Improvement movement has just taken place
in Orange County-namely. the formation of
company by E. II. Hartman for the construction
of roads in that county low price. Mr.. Harri-
owns several thousand acres of land. known
Arden Farms. in the towns of Tuxedo and
Woodbury. and has constructed fine roads in every
part OF his estate. which are open TO the public.
But his interest in road Improvement Is not limited
to his neighborhood II is said he believes that
the Orange County milk dealers and farmers would
be more prosperous, ana the county more attracuNe
summer visitors II the roads were improved
everywhere, Mr.. Hartman is said to be conscious.
however, that in order 10 make the Improvement
of roads attractive TO farmers the cost OF road I'M
prOVeTn6nt must De Kept very low he mas ac-
cordingly organized the Orange County Road Con-
struction Company 10 bid for contracts for road
Improvement in that county, intending 10 make low
bids. and thus keep the price OF road improve
ment down. An act was passed by the legislature
this year authorizing the Board Of Supervisors OF
Orange County. If the contract was awarded 10 IL
by Mr.. Bond for the construction or improvement
of public highway, either 10 perform the work
themselves or award a sub-contract for the per-
formance Of the work Mr.. Harrimans company
thus has a chance to bid upon the work As stated,
ii is not intended to be money making concern
WANTS STATE TO BUY QUARRY
II is highly probable that Governor Odeu looks
with great interest upon every step taken to i'm
prove the roads OF OranSe County, his native