The suburban citizen., 1902-07-19

bicycles and automobiles nave
created demand for better
roads. both in city and out;
this demand has created public senti-
ment in its favor which is felt in all
parts of the country, and now the re.
suits are being reaped IN more ways
than one.
For the bicyclers thousands of miles
of sidepaths have been constructed
within the past FIVE years; for the au.
tomobilists, farmers and the wheeling
public generally, millions of dollars
have been appropriated during the past
twelve months for the Improvement
of country roads both in the United
States and Canada
The good roads train which started
from New Orleans on its way north to
Chicago, built the last one Of about
twenty-five miles OF sample road at Ef.
fingham, a little town in Southern H.
linois. Director Dodge, Of the United
States Public Road Inquiries, reports
that five State Good Roads conventions
were held in as many States along the
route of the train, all Of which were
largely attended.
The Canadian good roads trains,
which started out on a tour of the
provinces in the month OF May, are
still in operation. Like the various
trains, which have been started out in
the United States, the Canadian have
been fitted with road graders, wheeled
scrapers, rock crushers and road roll
ers, but instead of loading this outfit
on a railroad train the whole outfit is
hauled over the country roads by
means of traction engines. Owing to
this fact the stops are more frequent,
and it requires three different trains
to cover the territory desired. The last
session Of the Canadian Parliament ap-
propriated S1,000000 for this work and
Commissioner Campbell, of the Depart
ment of Highways, says that every
penny will be devoted to the construc-
ton Of new roads during this season.
The good roads train, which was adj
vertised so widely by State Senator
Earle, Of Michigan, and was sched-
uled to make a tour Of the Middle
West, East and South, building mile
samples Of good roads, has been called
off by Governor Bliss, and the Senator
has been requested to devote his eDer.
gies to the improvement of the roads
in his own State before he performs
missionary work in others.
In the meantime the old Empire
State has not been idle in this work
for lettering the conditions of country
roads, The State appropriated nearly
half million dollars for the work in
the State, and during the year the ap-
plications for road improvement have
come in so fast from the various coun-
ties that the State has been unable to
keep pace with them, and they are pill
ing up in the State Engineers Office,
who has already approved of plans for
roads the cost of which amounts to
twice that of the appropriation,
The cost of building a thoroughly
good road is the chief obstacle in the
way of rapid work, and anything that
will reduce the cost will hasten the era
of good roads. The farmers are now
very generally in favor of the good
roads movement, and, of course, the
bicy clists and automobile clubs are IN
hearty accord.
AS a means for reducing the cost per
mile for the construction Of good roads
State Engineer Bond proposes to estaD-
lish State quarry. His plan for this
will be presented for approval at the
international gathering of good roads
people at Buffalo. Engineer Bond has
found that the very best material for
good roads is trap rock Of which there
is an ineXhaustible supply on the west
bank Of the lower Hudson The Pail.
sades are all trap rock, but it is not his
intention to meddle with them. There
is plenty of the rock north of them. Just
about opposite Sing Sing, near Rock
land Lake, is the place he regards as
an ideal one for the establishment of
State quarry.
The New York State Engineers plan
calls for the employment of the con.
victs in Sing Sing prison in quarrying
the rock and converting it into road
material. The place is close by the
prison, is easy to reach and the cost of
maintenance for the convicts there
would be no more than in the prison
The objections which would apply to
working tho prisoners on the roads
would not apply to the quarry, and at
the same time their employment would
be profitable to the State. AS rapidly
as the road material was prepared II
could be sent to all parts of the State,
and sold to the county engaged in road
buildino