The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-02-24
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G-Eu farmers of the State who
have vast crops to move who are
most inslstent upon the imperative
need of good roads and who are pledg.
ing the payment of vast sums from
their local treasures IL the necessary
State aid will bring about the better.
ment of New York's public highways.
The would-be driver for pleasure who
bumps along country roads that rival
that traditional rocky route TO Dublin
swears between jolts that Il Is q shame
that the Empire States thoroughfares
are not decent places of travel, but
the farmers are the men of all others
interested in the proposed great
scheme of public improvement.
They use the roads more than any
one else in their daily work and haul
ing crops en- route TO market. and
though they were at first opposed to
the State good roads" appropriation
and the additional county subscription
to 1t that meant increased taxes to
every one of them, they are to-day the
most earnest advocates of the meas
ure to be presented at this session of
the Legislature. And their attitude
is that Of wisdom, for no money ap-
propriated by the State brings more
lasting benefit to the community at
large than the sums given for the
building of good roads.
In every locality where the better.
ment of the highways has ben eff
fected by general and local taxation
the voting of the necessary county
subscription in order 10 gain State aid
was first effected only after the most
vigorous objection on the part of the
farmer, who say only larger take; to
pay In consequence. But the universal
result of the better roads has been to
transform the objectors into enthusias.
tic indorsers of the movement. Every
county and township in this and other
States that has expended money for
the Improvement has found that II
has enriched the neighborhood vastly,
Not only has II increased the carrying
capacity of the vehicles. lessened the
cost of travel and diminished wear and
tear, but 1t has tended TO build up a
county by making 1t more attractive
in every way and drawing to 1t we'll
to-do people who are n source of rev.
enue to the various localities.
The Legislature of this State in 1903
passed favorably spon the proposed
submission to the people of n consti
tutlonal amendment enabling the issue
of bonds TO the amount of $4,000 600
for the building of good roads. half of
the sum to be donated by the State
and the other half loaned to the coun.
ties agreeing 20 meet half the local
cost. This must be passed uron again
in 1905 before 1t can go before the peo-
pie for consideration, so 1t will be 100e
before such aid can be given the va
rious counties. Meanwhile there Is q
universal demand for immediate relief,
and from all Iarts of the State the
legislators are urged to appropriate at
this and the following session at least
S2,OOO,OOO annually for highway work,
on the plan of the counties meeting
half the necessary expenditure.
There should be no opposition to this
proposed measure, for it is the wish Of
the whole State. and as half the bur.
den will fall upon the counties con.
cerned, while the public mt large will
share the benefits, the bill should go
through with acclamation as a meas.
ure that will do "the greatest good to
the greatest number York Her.
aid.