The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1902-07-31
CAUSE OF GOOD ROADS.
Ia All Parts of New York It Ii Pre~-
pering as II Never Has Pros-
pered before.

The action of the board of supervis-
ors of this county in recommending
the building of 3j miles of good road
under the state aid plan, and the an
preparation of the county's share If
money for the improvement of four
miles OF road on which estimates had
already been made, bring the matter
of good roads to practical test where
il has heretofore been theoretical
proposition.
It shows the growth OF good read
sentiment which is shared all ov:r the
state. The Utica Press printed in n
canal town, comedies that the good
roads sentiment has majority over
the canal sentiment, and it suggests
that: "In case the legislature fails to
sanction the submission to the people
Of a tituitonal amendment author
izing the appropriation of sSS,-
100000 for the further improve
mcnt of the canals, there may
be n chance for the proposition IN
reference to good roads. There
is undoubtedly more sentiment favor
able toroad improvement than to canal
Improvement. As road improvement
the state, it is practically certain that
there would be popular approval of an
anne ndmcnt To the constitution permit
ting the state to issue bonds to the
amount of 100000, 900 60 carry on this
movement"
Certainly here Is more argument for
tax on the New York farmer to get
his products to market than there is
to tax him for getting the products OF
his western competitor to market. The
legislature has probably refused TO
sanction the submission OF the canal
proposition. and if it remains In its
present determination the way is
clear for the submission of the 500, ,000,-
600 proposition for good roads, as both
subjects could not he submitted in one
year. It is believed that the people
would accept the good roads PROPOSE
tion. in which all would receive equal
benefit.
The legislature is pretty sure at least
to grant 5000, 600 this year to the state's
fund for aid in building good roads. 1t
is an epoch of good road building. The
legislature has passed several acts
favorable to securing better roads.
There is the O'Brien bill, which pro-
vdes county option plan, whereby
any county may adopt the most mod
ern system of caring for its roads and
bridges. 1t codifes the present laws,
provides for the cash system. n county
engineer and the proper care of bridges
and the contracting therefor. The
Green compulsory adoption OF cash
road tax system has reached third
reading in the senate, and the bill tN
compel the use of wide tires after 1905
is on general orders in the senate.
Assemblyman O'Brien, of Clinton
has also passed his bill to allow villages
to bond themselves and thus raise
money for the purchase of n steam rol.
Ter, stone crusher and engine. and
other roadmaking machinery. This
bill has met with no opposition.
One of the best Of good roads meae.
ures is that introduced by Assembly.
man Plank. of st. Lawrence county
which has been signed by the governor
and is law. 1t providesa measure for
localities that object TO the more e1'
pensive requirements of the Higbe
| law. 1t is an amendment of the Fuller
| law Of 1sgs. and gives towns adopting
| the money system of highway improve
ment so per cent. bonus from the state
treasury, instead of oj per cent. Thi.
law takes effect Immediately. Town:
which have or do adopt the money sys'
TEN will get an immediate benefit on
| future work. W. Pierrepont White, OF
| Oneida. who Is n leader Of the goot
roads movement, says that this law
will 90 far toward ligent improve
/ mont and work on all country roads.
This seems 10 he an era of goot
roads. Those that have been mad,
create demand for more. The money
cost Is great. but She cities and vii
J lagos pay ii and II is converted into
! labor in the rural districts. and tn,
! good road remains as 5he result
Watertrwn (N. " Times