The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-02-13
ABOUT STATE HIGHWAYS.
COMMISSIONER M,DoNALD SUB
AITs IMPORTANT IMPORTATION

COMMISSIONER M,DoNALD SUE.
MITS IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Seventh and Eighth Annual Reports
Issued-Good Roads Movement Her,
TO stay-Recom mem DIS Appr opriation,
of Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand
Dollars Per Amnum for Two Years,
The seventh and eighth annual re-
ports of State Highway Commissioner
Macdonald have just been issued, and
they contain much valuable informa-
ton in regard to the work done during
the past two years An abstract of the
reports is appended:
Each recurring year since the begin
ming of the good roads law in 1895 only
serves to emphasize the fact that the
good roads movement in Connecticut
has come to stay.
SUMMARY OF 1902.
Summary of the work in 1902 is the
letting of 118 contracts in 102 towns
uPOlA Io1 SCCtlOllo, anu lllG COlllplCllOlI VI
SO contracts in eighty-five towns upon
1855 sections, with a total of 1890 miles
of road completed and accepted. In ad-
dition to the number of miles completed
and finally accepted there remains 3705
miles very nearly completed upon
which only a few days work is neces-
sary, so that practically there have
been finished over 1873 miles of road
during the last two years.
SURPLUS FUNDS ON HAND.
In addition to the number of miles
which have been accepted and those
upon which only a few days work re-
mains to be done, there is still enough
money available from the appropriation
of 1901-02 to accomplish, approximately,
the improvement of ninety additional
miles of improved highway.
INSPECTORS RECOMMENDED.
The department would recommend
that as an assistance to the work of the
commissioner some general inspectors
be furnished to assist the commissions
in carrying on the work. The depart
ment feels that it would be wise to APP
point a county inspector for each coun-
ty, who should continue in office during
good behavior at a fixed salary.
WANTS $3.50, 900 PER YEAR.
1t has been thought wise to recon-
mend an appropriation of $25e,00O a
year for the ensuing two years, which
would adequately meet the obligations
and care for the interests and purposes
of this department.
LOCATION, DRAINAGE AND
GRADE.
Towns are fast beginning to realize
that precedence should be given to the
questions of location, drainage and
grade reduction, over that of the ques-
ton Of surface, for the reason that this
method insures permanency, whereas if
the simple question Of surfacing were
put foremost the road would be only
makeshift Improvement and would be
only temporary in it's character.
THE CONTRACT SYSTEM.
The contract system is still prevalent
in too many of our towns and it seems
a very difficult matter to uproot it.
But 1T is gradually making for itself en-
emies which will some day cause it's
overthrow.
WORKING OUT TAXES.
This is another evil which will have
to be uprooted. OF course there are
cases where men are unfortunate and
the privilege of working out their in
debtedness to the town is great bene-
fit to themselves and families, but these
cases are the exception in our state
rather than the rule.
ABOUT DAMAGE CLAIMS.
A good many of the claims for dam
age could be adjusted with considera-
BILE more profit to the town if they were
taken care iof by officials of the town
before the commencement of the work,
for there is always difference between
the assessed valuation of a property
and the selling price.
QUESTION OF CULVERTS.
The introduction Of culverts at points
intelligently selected so as to carry
away the water from the exit points
where it will find it's way into a natural
water course is sometimes very diff
cult. We have introduced in some of
these places plank culverts, in others
we have provided stone culverts entire
sides and top; in other places We have
provided stone sides and plank tops.
SCARCITY OF MATERIAL.
In quite iluIIlDGf OIL our IOWuS we
find that good material for road con-
struction is very difficult to procure.
Tn the judgment of this department the
shortest cut to the accomplishment of
this desired end will be the introduce
ton of portable steam crushers as the
most economical, feasible and intelli-
gent plan to solve this problem.
BENEFITS FROM RURAL DELIVE-
RY.
Now that the government has inaugu-
rated free delivery routes good roads
will be more in demand than ever. On
every hand we hear from these mail
agents expressions of approval Of the
Improvement on the highways, AS this
system extends throughout the state it
will prove no insignificant factor as an
assistant to the growth Of sentiment for
better roads.
PRAISE FOR ELI WHITNEY
BLAKE.
In 1851 the town of New Haven
Passed a vote to macadamize Whalley |
avenue from New Haven to Westville. !
Eli Whitney Blake was selected as one |
of the committee to take charge of the I
construction Of the road. The stone !