The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-03
THE GOOD ROADS CONVENTION.
Gigantic Plans for Highway improvement
In New York state.

more sincere and determined efforts ever
have been exerted In behalf Of improving
the present highways of New York State
and OF building new roads where they are
greatly needed than those put forth last
week at Albany by the champions OF the
good roads movement there assembled
In their third annual convention. The
suggestions and recommendations offered
at the convention were the outgrowth
OF a good deal OF thought and investigation;
and while IL remains to be seen how the
Legislature will regard tho measures to
be proposed for enactment, there can be
no doubt that the work Of the convention
has awakened throughout the State a keen
and salutary interest In the subject at
hand.
The most important action Of the on
v%ention, which, by the way, included rep
resentatives from New York city as well
as from various other sections of this State,
was Its recommendation hat the Legis-
lature appropriate 81 900. 900 for highway
construction during the ensuing year,;
that sum TO be expended in accordance
with the provisions Of the Higbie-Arm-
strong law. II was shown that with such
an appropriation much OF the work now
In progress could be completed; hat such
delays as have heretofore resulted from
insufficient money would be avoided. and
that immediate and proper attention could
be given to the numerous petitions for new
and improved roads which lave come
from a score Of counties wherein Il has 30
far been found impossible to make the de-
sired improvements owing to the limited
funds available for that purpose. During
the past year, for example, petitions were
received for forty-six miles Of improved
roads in Albany county alone; but only
about fifteen miles were constructed, be-
cause of financial restrictions
During the convention serious consider
alton was given to the proposition, made
in the annual report OF state Engineer and
Surveyor Edward A. Bond, that the State
issue bonds 10 the amount OF $40 900 900
for the purpose of inaugurating at once n
movement for the systematic and extensive
prosecution of the work of road making
within its borders, and particularly for the
construction Of run roads to connect the
principal cities Of the State. MIR. Bond
explained that such an issue could be re-
tired III seventeen years, and would cost
the citizens of the State annually In taxes
about 500, 600. With IT upward Of I $50 miles
Of good macadam ROAD could be constructed
which would connect all the counties in
the eastern and central and southern por-
tons of the State, and would extend, also.
TO other counties where the need of better
highways is very great. The work could
he completed in less than four years, and
we would then have, all told, about ,42S
miles of good roadway, which would, It was
estimated, be equivalent TO one-half Of the
entire road mileage OF the State.
The convention concluded. however. that
il would be unwise to go half way in the
matter and voted in favor of doubling the
amount OF the bond. making IL $50 ,OOO, 600.
Under the present law. only 50 per cent. Of
this burden. or $4,000 600, would fall d.
rectly upon the State, a. the balance would
he borne 10y the towns and counties in the
proportion of IS per cent by the former and
IS per cent. by the latter. But Il was not
thought best 10 press the demsnd FOR such
an issue al the present time. and an appro-
priation Of 81 ,0Oo,0cO his wear is all that the
convention Expects.
In addition to the steps taken 70 secure
the money necessary TO carry out its pro-
lcct. the convention voted to urge the pas
sage Of n so-called "wide-tire BILL TO 20
into effect two years hence, the object OF
which will be- To require the use Of tires at
least four inches in width upon heavy
vehicles; and. also, TO introduce a measure
providing that ~signJosts De erected on all
the principal highways Of the state. IL is a
well-known fact that narrow tires are de-
strIctive TO good roads: and the COM
pulsory use Of wide tires should not only
remove this enemy Of the highways. but
should result In perpetuatin. their smooth
ness. Aud as TO the desirability Of sign
posts, or guide-boards, there can be no
question.
There Is Enthusiastically an impression in
many quarters Of this state that The present
agitation in behalf Of better highways not
only originates primarily aOmng the bicy-
clIstS and automobillsts and drivers Of fast
horses, but hat whatever SUCCESS may at
the movement will De enjoyed by them
TO a much greater extent than by the far
mers and certain other rcsIionts Of the
state, and IA" existing sentiment against
improvement ON a large scale and
al great oNIen-e h. based on the fear that
such Tpadh may be- converted practically
into ra.etrackr, WhereDu -low-going We
hiclcs ran travel uuIy az great ri-k
OF Cuutar. H-ppTrh'u~iuIr 81 that sort are
Illogical A. a body, the ~uiomobllists a."
strongly oppo-ssl to reckless riding upon
th" public high@av- a. ~" ihe farmer, and
he same sentiment prevails among the
luT-rmru Tie tI,f that Hn exceedingly
small Percentage of drivers have violated
tHr ,Iesd regulations, and ~ consequence, I
uaN" indicted injury upon themselves and
hy no mean, ihdioat"s ia" conduct
lorrihly b. thar the timr Do approach
iug when rlrh laWlf-- individual. Will have
Co., frfufm. OF t.-' -uf't a severe l'gal pen .
alfN tuI their utlahlHf
tlIr-s ODD iIr rlgi- fail, M. present wear
v.Iurr- gp.tfri progress lu the opn-
.iruotIuu aud mprY,rmrni uf highway in
flr iIllst N.als- tiaI any ul ls pruIn-
s--lf- o. th' Nu..h tNl- wuTk b. lsinE
prosecuted Win u .raI Irtur i~fUfr die.
lat,d 200 HU.lar undertaking. aHd thr
-4lrs ..U ia -.Ht tu4IIfu.IN cd thr trHfral
.H4 a.H| ~ many tarnr ui Nh" Wei
WIHr fHr 'fHTr u fiI- direction iupf'a-s
r D. ..f ..,rHp I. tT.h 'lat 'hF olrf ~
U.aa f,. .#.I. iU..I l.Hn Yrtf hN trar.
u. Dol rl.sI Ut II. antaI rHT.us - high
(, 49, sUFHu.. I~aHHalanJ EraIbuE
..rrt.. Goo Ulr tttubr ~ 40 lfuIIu.
B. a. ...uiI iu us faH flat tlrf uuu
uIru. lr.a.I b.. GOO NfH.f tu b. o.hisut
HfIrIy uuIiafUg fhs rtamulr ~ uflrf
boz r.i na4lsIlUF iHH 30 n'lsumiusd
Iu f.st Ihf H..H Dol N4f FIaat r.fa
800 l.Ut 300 sosu hoAbu