New-York tribune., 1903-04-19
E0R coon ROIDS.

If anv one still doubts that the 'tgood roads
! movement" is moving he must be constitution
! ally impervious to the light of facts. In this
| State an appropriation of S1.000.OOO has been
/ tentatively agreed on, and the amount Is not
! unlikely to be considerably increased. We can
! not say that this is thing to be remarkably
| proud Of for New-York Is immensely rich. but
, its progress has been continuous for years ana
there is ample reason to believe that its treat
ment of the matter will be increasingly liberal.
1t assuredly will if the legislature responds to
public sentiment. for it is an impressive fact
that popular interest in highway improvement
once kindled has never failed to spread in any
quarter of the country New-York is doing fair
" we'll but a much longer single step In the
same direction has just been taken in PennsyE
vania. where the legislature has passed bill
appropriating S6.500.000 for road work In
New-York local treasures must furnish an
amount equal TO that provided by the State. but
in Pennsylvania the State supplies two-thirds
so that the appropriation of S6.50OO00 contem-
plates q total expenditure of more than SSOOO-
O00 Similar evidence of the general awaken
ing is coming in from many sources. and we
do not believe thar in single instance legisla-
tive action can be shown TO be in advance OF
the popular demand. In short lawmakers are
, not nstructing but are being instructed by their
constituents
One of the many large projects which are
making for better highways is that started
by the New-York and Chicago Road Associa-
ton, which has just been incorporated at AL
bany. with Colonel Albert A. Pope, Of bicycle
fame, as It's president modern highway
between the two great cities would be an OBJ
ject lesson of great value and an incentive to
similar work in other parts of the country
This highway, It Is expected by the members
of the association. will be completed within
reasonable time, and that the project is re-
garded as entirely feasible Is shown by the
forces which working for its accomplish
ment.
Another striking proof of the hold which the
good roads cause has taken on intelligent opin-
ion is found In the programme of the national
and international convention which is TO as
semble at St LOWS week after next More than
n score of important men have promised to
make formal addresses. including the President
of the United States md the Governor of Mis-
souri,. the Director of Public Works of Canada,
General Miles, Mr. William J. Bryan. Secretary
Wilson. Representative Hepburn. of Iowa. and
Sena for Daniel, of Virginia Mayor Harrison of
Chicago Mr. Pattullo. member Of the Canadian
Parliament, and Mr.. Stuyvesant Fish, president
of the Illinois Central Railroad dozen
States will be represented on the platform, and
an immense attendance of delegates from all
parts of the country is assured
1t is no exa ggeration but the simple truth to
say that former conventions have been char
acterized by a combination of practical sense
and enthusiasm to which the history of public
undertakings of an Industrial nature furnishes
few parallels, We have doubt that the
coming meeting. favored by peculiarly au-
spicious conditions, will raise the standard still
higher and enlist new influences in support of
n movement which is destined to accomplish q
veritable transformation of the nations high
ways.