New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-10-05
A PROBLEM OF R0AnR-

A unique phase OF the good roads question
has arisen in some parts of the counties lying
Just north OF this city. 10 wit In places where
considerable tracts Of land have been taken by
this city for the extension Of its Croton water
storage system. IL is the cOmmendabe practice
of the city 10 build new roads in place Of these
which IL destroys, and 10 its credit II is 10 be
said that il has generally done such work well
The roads which Il has constructed along the
shores Of the lakes at Nalhalla. Purdys Brew
sters, Carmel. Amawalk and elsewhere. as well
as the older ones along CrotOn Lake may Lot
always be things of beauty. but they are
sources Of great JOY TO all who have occasion
10 use them.
The pertinent question arises. however. when
such work should be done by the city. Is It 20
be done as soon the city takes possession Of
the land, or not until the dams are constructed
and the reservoirs filled: Between the two
dates there may be a long interval Let US
take. for example. the case Of village which
some I'VE or six years ago was condemned and
obliterated All the land was taken by the
city and all the houses and other buildings were
removed or destroyed to make room for the
lsrcement Of Croton Lake. Where once was a
compactly built village Is now wilderness al
most as quickly overgrown with weeds and wild
bushes as was that village upon which Mowgli
let in the jungle. Through that wilderness,
however run several important roads connect
ing the various villages which surround the
abandoned site. They are the old roads but
they are not 10 be permanent, but ara in time
10 be submerged and 90 be replaced with new
ones which the city will build along the margin
Of the enlarged lake. The city has not Yet built
the new ones, and may not for years 10 come.
for IL will doubtless b several years Yet before
the long delayed Cornell Dam is finished and
CrotOn Lake Is enlarged 20 It's new limits.
Meantime the local authorities do not feel in
clined 10 spend much money and labor upon
condemned roads which are presently 10 he
abandoned. They prefer 10 let them 60 with
the least possible attention waiting for the city
10 lay out and build the new roads which are
10 take their place The result is that the roads
are in a disgracefuily bad condition. They have
been so for several years. and they may he so
FOR several years 10 come.
Such state Of affairs is dscreditable. There
is something TO be said on each side, hut GER
tainly benefcent balance should he struck be-
tween the two. As the city Is bound 10 build
new roads soon or late il is argued that ID might
as well do So AZ the outset. as soon as ii ac-
quires possession Of the land and elects the
former owners. II knows now just as well as
X ever Will where the new roads are 10 be- and
II VIII cost IL no more 10 build them now than
several years hence. So IL ought 10 build them
now and let the people have the good Of them
ana spend their money in maintaining them in
stead or ia maintaining roads which will soon
ue destroyed. ON the other hand there are
u'"se Who argue that as the local authorities
are taxing The city for the land il has acquired
they should themselves look after the main
-, sioe OF ROADS through the city's property as
Wei as elsewhere Without attemptinp n mass
eN eathedra upon the eternal EQUITIES Of the
case we may say that Il is great shame that
Seu"een the two the road using public should
oe forced to fan into slough Of mo thorough
aAie' Inc city and the local authorities should
III some way get together and agree upon plan