Middletown transcript., 1902-12-06

Llon tDaJ DOarQ OF IreenolQeTS can de-
clare its intentions to improve any high
way or when the property owners alonga
certain road desires its improvement.
The speaker here presented statistics
showing the appropriations and the
amGu"ts used. In 1891 the appropria-
ton u. the state was $40, 900 and none of
it was used. In 1892, the appropriation
was SIS, 900 and $21, 900 was used. In
1893, 5000 was granted and $7l, 900
was used. In 1894 there was another ap-
preparation of $4,000 and all of it was
used. In 1896 6-'97 and '98, 100000
was granted each year and all used. In
1899, 1900 and 1901, $3.50, 900 was granted
yearly and all expended. In 1902, $3.50
900 was appropriated and all this and
more has been used.
"During the three years of 1872, '93 and
.94," said Mr.. Budd, 'tthere were
seventy-fve miles of read improved.
During the year of '95 there were forty
six miles improved; ffty-one miles in
'96; sixty-six miles in '97; eighty-four
miles in '9S; one hundred and fifteen in
'99; eighty-four in 1900; one hundred and
ten miles in 1901; and in 1902 over two
hundred and twenty -four miles of road
have been built"
"The antagonism of the people at the
first has been suppressed. This has
been changed into desire for more
Improvements which now amount to
600 miles at the estimated cost of $2,-
100000 Many of the counties are build
ing as many miles each year as the limit
Of the law, one-fourth of one per cent
tax on the taxables, will allow"
The question of what benefit these
roads have upon the state was next re-
ferred to by the speaker, and he pointed
out that conditions were much better in
the sections boasting of good roads. The
value of real estate has been improved in
these sections, he said, and the farmers
especially are reaping the benefit.
The cost of maintaining good roads was
another matter mentioned by Mr.. Budd,
and in this connection he said:
"There are 100000 miles of common
wagon roads in this country and there
are 10000 miles in New Jersey alone
On these common wagon roads Massachu-
setts and New Jersey waste annually
81, ,000, 600; New York, $2,500,000; the
total amount wasted is said to be some
thing like $50,000,000 annually.
"The cost of hauling produce to the
nearest market or railway station is
given at 5000, 100000 a year, or more
than the entire cost of operating all the
railways in the United States, which
foots up to 1918, 100000.
"The average haul to the nearest ship
ping point is estimated at twelve miles.
The average cost 25 cents per ton per
mile, or So ton for the twelve miles.
Few farmers take into consideration this
item of expense. The cost of railway
transportation is seven mills per ton per
mile. If the farmers products be hauled
to the market at that rate the total cost
would be less than S26, ,0O0,00O as COM
pared with 5000, 900, 600, the present cost.
Mr.. Budd said the most important
factor in reducing the cost for much
larger loads was that much time is saved,
and there is great saving of horse flesh
as well. Another important factor, he
said, was of getting produce to markets
when prices were high.
Mr.. Budd asked the question why stone
and gravel roads should be built, and
answering this, said repairs on common
wagon roads cost enough to make hard
roads of them, and added that after being
repaired they were generally worse at the
end of a few months than they were
before. Dirt roads, he said, could not be
otherwise than bad during large por-
tion of the year. The rain percolates
through the soil, renders them soft in
winter, and drysweather generally makes
they ~ IN summer s"rA eFeffere !, said
Mr.. Budd, ''bad roads are constant tax.
The cost of hard roads under the state
aid law is bearable by most any COM
munity, as is evident by the fact that
those communities which have received
the benefit of the law are the most clam
orous for more. Communities receive
direct benefits by inducing new settle
ments, thus increasing the value of prop
erty; by arresting the tendency to cluster
in the cities.
Improved roads make improved
schools possible for the children. Close
coordination between improved roads
and education cannot be too strongly i'm
pressed upon the public attention. The
ambition of every rural district to place
a school-house in every valley and on
every hilltop resulted in very mediocre
accommodations and poor instruction.
Good roads allow Capitalization and COM
bination, making travel SO easy that dis
tance is no longer an object. By means
of bicycles and wagons the children are
quickly carried to central schools, thus
enabling country districts to have graded
schools, in which efficient teachers and
competition give the same life and spirit
that has long prevailed in the cities.
Mr.. Budd closed by contending that
common wagon roads are the greatest
of commerce, and declared that
it was surprise that the greatest ener-
gies of all the states should not be first
devoted to their improvement.
''It should be the political text of all
the people, he said, that each and every
one of our representatives must devote
their best talent to the raising of ways
and means by which our wagon ways
shall be quickly improved"
Much interest was centered in the adj
dress of Mr.. Budd, and when he con-
cluded his paper, he was questioned on
many subjects. He exhibited maps
showing the condition of the principal
roads in the different counties of that