New-York tribune., 1901-01-01
ROAD IMPROVEMENT.
STATE ENGINEER BOND FAVORS AN AP-
PREPARATION OF s5OOOOO FOR
THIS WORK IN 1901

Albany Dec. 81 tspeciaD.-state Engineer Bond !
win soon make report to the Legislature upon |
the progress of road Improvement in this State in |
tne present year In 1898 the work begun with |
an appropriation of $4,000 1t was continued In 1893
with another appropriation OF $4,000. been
carried forward stiI faster this year with an ap
preparation OF N5o.ooo. Thus s25O0W has been ex-
pended upon road Improvement by the State but
since the counties in which road Improvement is
carried pay half the expense 100000 In all has
been expended in this direction
Inc counties in which road improvement has
taken place are Westchester. Erie Monroe Rens-
seiaer. Columbia. sOneida Albany Onondaga
Ulster, Herkmer. schenectady and Chemung In
general, it may be stated that road Improvement
has been most favored in those counties which
contain large cities and least favored
Ties chiefly having a farming population. The
roads under improvement mainly radiate from the
cities OF New-York. Albany. Utica, Syracuse Roch-
ester. Buffalo and Elnira. The county of Orange
IN which Governor-elect Odel lives is about 10
engage In road Improvement under the supervision
OF the state Engineer. and one Of the roads to be
improved starts out from the city of Newburg
Ine cities are willing to pay the expense OF road
Improvement but the owners OF real estate I'm
some of the rural of the State are vet re-
luctant to undertake the experiment The roads al
ready built, ii is believed. will gradually bring over
the farmers to the opinion that the main roads of
the State should be improved
wESTCHESTER'S GOOD EXAMPLE
roads are enthusiastic in their support of this poll
Icy, the county of Westchester. for instance de-
sirihs 10 ouild two lines of roads, north and south
across It's territory. Westchester County sets a
good example to the other counties OF the State in
ravorlng systematic Improvement of It's roads ac-
cording to certain plan. The Erie County Board
OF Supervisors began the work of road improve
ment in combination with the State on a road
which runs from Buffalo to Hamburg distance of
ten miles IL was the first road begun In 1895 under
the Road Improvement law.
One of the obstacles i'm good road eonsrrrrsin,,
IN this State is the lack of trap rock anywhere I'm
the State except in the County OF Rockland Else
where the rock is chiefly limestone and sandstone
which are not of sufficient hardness 20 make
thoroughly good road for heavy traffic. although
they can be used for light traffic and for the bottom
layer of roads on which trap rock is be used FOR
the top layer For the construction of a thoroughly
good road. therefore, the trap rock material must
be transported from Rockland County OF from
New-Jersey counties up into the interior of New
York State The comparatively low cost OF road
construction in New-Jersey is owing to the low
cost Of trap rock and the proximity OF the trap
rock quarries To the roads which are to be i'm
proved. In New-Jersey in many cases the tran
rock which IS used Is found along the roadside and
frequently has To be quarried make a place for
the road proposed In many other the ledge
OF trap rises at the roadside. and the crusher
ray be placed directly the side OF the road
Ii would be possible in this State 10 send the
cOnvicts at Sing Sing Prison across the Hudson
River. lodge them In temporary quarters at some
trap rock quarry in ROckland County, not far
from the river, and have them quarry out material
for the of the various county authorities
and the State Engineer in the construction OF
roads. Such broken stone could be brought easily
TO the Hudson River and sent over large part OF
the State in canalbOats or barges.
Massachusetts has already expended s3Oo9Oo5 in
road Improvement, New-Jersey 100000 and Com
necticut 100000. State Engineer Bond favors an
appropriation of s500Oo0 In the approaching year
for the purpose in this State. Various counties
have officially promised spend the $4,000 addi-
tonal required by the Road Improvement law
That would make total OF 100000 10 be expended
In road improvement in this State in 1901 II
Governor Odell and the Republican Legislature
agree to the proposition. Mr.. Bond says on the
subject OF road improvements:
THE WORK AND ITS COST
The cost of roads by the mile thus far con-
Structed has been larger the than il will
be in the future. because they have been con-
structed near cities. Such roads must be broader
those in rural parts OF the State The average cost
and surveyed will be about $500 a mile but in
Orange County we have surveyed roads which
build roads further away from the cities the cost
Will be less. and thus the average cost by the mile
will be lowered. may mention properly here that
\ In Massachusetts they expect the roads to cost
| been engaged in road Improvement for ten wears
past. and we in NewYOrk will have the benefit OF
Up TO he termination OF the fiscal year. ending
September n ;. ~ S twenty,three roads had been
/ Higbie-ArmstrOng Good Roads law OF lssS These
addition this lSl petitions have been received
/ from twenty-seven counties for aggregate of
been made or ere in progress for eighty roads in
twenty-three counties. agsregating 400 miles and
| showing an average estimated or actual cost OF
Those roads which have been completed have
| given unqualified satisfaction 20 the people who
have used them and have helped 70 pay Cor them.
has been the presentation of petitions for the
During 1899 there was built In one OF the counties
a gravel road which has given entire satisfaction
and which cost much less than macadam road
calls from different parts of the State for roads
of this a similar character and IL has been de-
heavy traffic does not make IL necessary TO build
the high class and more costly massdam ; roads and
made no petitions to avail themselves Of the good
roads law.
LESS COSTLY THAN MACADAMIZING.
Improved roads are wanted by the people in all
counties 10 take action under the Higbie-Arn,-
| cost Of building the crushed stone macadam roads.
which are usually meant when good roads are
some counties can AFFORD to pay one-haIf OF the
cost OF the ass class crushed @ rock roads which @
many other counties equally want improved roads.
| which are neither so good nor so costly as the
macadam roads.
| The provisions of the Higbie- Armstrong law are
such that the State Engineer Is enabled to select
macadam or gravel roadway, otner suitable
construction taking into consideration the climate,
the extent and nature of the traffic likely specify
| ing In his Judgment the kind Of road which a wise
Under this provision the surveys and estimates
which have been made during 1899 and 1900 have
in every case. where the conditions make IL de-
sirabe provided for the use OF local stone or local
carry this action stiII further and 70 make merely
improved" roads for such colnties or towns as do
This will be done In such way that little OF the