New-York tribune., 1902-01-31
now proposing to rob and to oppress. 1t is not |
well to add insult TO injury.
ADJUNCTs TO GOOD ROADS.

The movement for good roads is now so well
advanced in this State that it's complete success
may be regarded only matter of time, and
of not long time. This weeks large and repre-
sentative convention at Albany indicates the
widespread and practical interest of the people
in the subject, and its formal suggestions and
recommendations show the practical manner in
which the work is being urged. The request
that the State shall appropriate S1,0O,OOO for
good roads this year comes with entirely good
grace from the representatives of communities
which are ready to spend still larger sum as
their share of the cost of making roads worthy
of n civilized State
Another recommendation of the convention is
admirable. That is, that a wide tire law be
enacted Such q law is much needed. Some
individual towns have endeavored to promote
the use of wide tires by allowing rebates on
road taxation to all using them. But some
thing more than that is needed At present it
is no uncommon sight to see wagons carrying
loads of two or three tons each running on tires
two inches wide or less They rip up ordinary
roads as a harrow would and they are injurious
to even the best macadam. There is no excuse
for such abOminations They should be for
hidden or taxed out of existence. wider tire
would be road making instead OF road de-
stroying machine. and would, to boot, make the
wagon run more easily and enable the horses
TO draw heavier loads.
Excellent also is the suggestion that the cree;
ton and maintenance of signposts be made
compulsory. The best road in the world will
be unsatisfactory if 1t is not so marked at cross
ings that the wayfarer will be able to ascertain
where he is and how to get to the place he is
seeking. We should not say that even the most
remote and least progressive rural region is
fr11ffa had off I'm q fS this ROr-
ough of Manhattan. But in a large part of the
State there Is much need of better and more
numerous signpOsts-and boards on the posts.
Such things are a legitimate part of the road
itself, and the erection and maintenance of
them may well be made compulsory.
A third desideratum is the enactment of
reasonable law for the regulation of speed on
the highways of the State-and the strict en-
forcement of IT, These good roads offer
temptation to some to use them as racetracks.
But they are not racetracks, and are not thus
TO be used. The object of improving roads is
not to enable a few to ride on them at a high
rate of speed, but TO enable all to use them with
more comfort and ease, at such a rate of speed
as is consistent with the safety of all. There
is suggestion that automobile vehicles be
permitted to run at twenty miles an hour. 1t
would be monstrous injustice to grant that
privilege TO them and TO restrict horse vehicles
to a lower rate. But II is exceedingly doubt
full whether it would be safe 20 let all sorts and
conditions Of vehicles move along country roads
at a three-mnute pace As matter of fact,
most people who the roads have no need
nor desire TO 60 so fast. and the safety and com
fort of the great majority should not be sacri-
feed to the selfish speed craze of few.
Good roads, kept good through the use of wide
tires, well marked with signboards and used by
all with regard for the safety of all-those are
the ends to he sought.