Delaware gazette and state journal., 1902-12-11
5erEaa anl ! reoess vas taken until 7.aO

NEW JtbfkA = ENPEklENCE.
At the afternoon session Mr. Budd
gave much interesting information
concerning the New.Jersey State law.
He said everybody in New Jersey ap
reared to ne in earnest in the matter
OF road building. The New Jersey State
Aid law was the result of agitation on
the Part of some OF the farmers in the
southern part OF the State. The farmers
were joined by the wheeimen and the
joint interests succeeded in enaoting
tho original law in 1891, which was
amended and improved in 1885. At
first there was some opposition to
State aid, but the results hare been 80
good that the plan is favored by the
people generally. The law recognizes
that the roads belong to the general
public and not particularly to the
people owning property thereon. When,
however, two-thirds OF the people along
road desire permanent Improvement
and arc MllilDs 10 Iay 10 per cent the
road is improved. The State pays one
third Of the cost and tho county and
township tho balance. In the first year
of the operation Of the Law, 1891, $40, =
600 was appropriated. but none ex-
pended; in 1892, $4,000 appropriate
and S2l, 090 used; 1895, s75, 900 ap-
propriated and 81, 900 use i; 1894, sI5, :
600 appropriated and all used; 1886
CTS, Sl00,000 each year and all
claimed; 1899, 1909 and 1901, $3.50, 000
year and all expended; 1902, $3.50, coo
and all spent. In 1924 there were
70 miles Of road improved 1895, &c
miles; 1896 81 miles; 1897, &C miles
1893, "a miles; 1899, 1l5 miles; 1900
81 miles; 1901, ITO miles; 1902, 224
miles. The total number of miles i'm.
proved up to 1902 will be about 800,
costing the State about 81, 26e. COO; tine
State, counties and individuals, about
i,0O0,C COD. Stone roads cost an average
of %, COO mile; gravel and shell roads,
LOCO to 81, 900 per mile. Tie different
counties and townships in the northern
part OF the State have built under
special laws fully GOO miles more, max
ing the number of improved miles Of
road I'D the State about !, 100.
| The indifference and antagonism OF
the people at the start has now changed
into an intense aud almost unnontrolla-
bio desire, which is resulting IN con-
tinuous appplications for more i'm
provemenls. which now amount to 600
miles at an estimated cost of about
81, JUO, w.. Maly OF the counties are
building as many miles each year as
the limit of the law, ne-fourth of /
| per cent tax on ratables, will allow.
he experience has been that where
one road is built in a county with
State aid the department is quickly
besieged for more. The desire of the
farming communities in New Jersey is
so great that it matters not how poor
they are they are just as anxious and
ready to Fay the 10 per ceEt as the
more wealthy communities. The State
has continuous lines leading from
| Jersey City and Newark almost to the
western portion of the State, through
the counties of Morris, Passaic, Union
and Essex; continuous lines from New.
ark south through New Brunswick,
Trenton, Mt. Holly, Burlington anc
Camden to Atlantic City. A distance
of 150 miles; from Camden south anc
north in different directions, making
continuous roads almost Throughout
the State, spreading out like the spoke!
OF wheel.
new stone road three miles il
length from Ashury Park to LonI
Branch has increased the taxable vaiut
of the property along it $4,000. 600
In many sections of the State tht
farmers would have been glad to re
ceive $50 per acre for their land at on,
time. but since have sold for $3.50 t.
$500, the tracts having been converted
as a result of the roads, into idea
residential sites.
Atlantic county has contracted, unde
the State Aid law, for boulevard
four miles long across the meadows
which will cost about S54, COO, whic
will give magnificent drive to tn
teaming summer population of Atlanti
City. The taxable values of propert
in the State increased S2T, coo, COO i
1901 and in 1902 s35, 600, 600 over 1901
With all of this improvement unde
the State aid law the farmer and rura
population ray, comparatively, but
J small part OF the cost, as tho Stat
pays one-third, and so per cent of th
taxable wealth of the State being i
J the cities, the counties paying 81 Pc
: cont Of the cost, the cities are take
for 80 per cent of this. So farmers fin
that the tax sits so lightly upon thel
taat IL makes no comparison to th
: cost OF wading thro gh sand and mud
} The country is 0ppropriating mlllior
of dollars for building canals and raj
} roads, yet 80 per cent of all the mi
terIal that passes over them must fir
pass ove- primary roads, namely. th
) common wagon roads. The cost {
: hauling produce to the nearest mark
or railroad station is given as $500
t COO, 600 year, or more than the enti
cost of operating all the railroads
3 the United States. The average hal
t to the nearest shipping point is
r miles, tho average ccst 20 cents p
. ton per mile, or s. a ton for the
a miles. Few farmers take into col
{ slderatiun these items of expense, bj
it should he carefully considered. TT
Q average cost of railroad transportatit
r in the United States is only seven mil
y per ton LeF mile. If the farmers DR.
Q ducts coul1 be- hauled to the mark
v at this rate the total cost world
5 less than S2G, 001, co., as compared wi
9 the $500, C0J, Goa. the present cost.
r The greatest number of improv
d roads in New Jersey have been built
Q sandy country. As a result of go
: roads ngay farmers have abandon,
n the raising OF grain. &c., and are raj
9 ing fruits and vegetables, which a
J. hauled 20 to 30 miles to the philadC
o pHia market. Before the roaus we
r improved that vas next to impossit
and tho raising OF fruit was not profit
i BILE. Therefor, it can he seen how t
good roads improve the value of t
!, FARMS.
K All but two of tho counties in n,
! Jersey have accepted tho provisions
! the State a.d law. Gloucester count
); which has larger proportion of pc
: farming land thar any other count
;, has made great demalgs upon thu ST.
) appropriation and Is increasing the (
mand each 5ear, and as a result t
= value of ;nr'1s is i'm. rcring. Allan
}, county comes next.
3 What tue iogn.er needs most is t
= opportunity to ct '-bis produce
, market vixen il hrirgg the hight