New-York tribune., 1905-02-23
AID FOR GOOD ROADS.
BOND ISSUE F4VORED.
Committee Reports Fduorabfy on
ARMSTRONG $50 900 900 Plan.
IpY rE1EaRAPH TO THE TRIBuNE.l

AhahA-NH-5
Albany Feb FIFTY million dollars for sooo
roads the dream Of the State aid highway improve
rnent advocates. advanced stcp nearer luihlineht
TO-DAY when the Senate Judiciary Committee ailer
a hearing reported favorahly on the Armstrong
constitutional amendment permitting the state 10
l,ond itself TO that amount assist towns ana
counties 10 construct roads. There is little doubt
now that the measure Will pass both houses ana
receive the Governors signature. In that case IL
viii be submitted popular vote AT the next gen
eral election. and the final verdict WIN rest WIN
the voters OF the state
The principal speech in favor of the resolution
was made by W. Perrepont White. OF Utica chair
man OF the executive committee OF the sixth an
nual Supervisors Road Improvement Convention
which initiated the measure and has WORKED TOT
tts progress during the last year and half There
Was no opposition. Mr.. White said that ROAD I'M
provenIeut essential to the maintenance ot
the commercial supremacy Of this State as the oe-
xeloprent of railroads and canals. The fun oeneht
OF A cheap freight rate said he, could not oe en-
5oved By the State at large unless its hghWay
system was improved so as to enable the l-'V"""
tons OF farm products raised on the ZZV"Vs acres
OF farming land within the State 10 reach markets.
al the least possible cost -.
Mr. Whites statements were echoed by Johi' HieH'
of Saratoga: S. 5. Salisbury. of Cayusa; Ira +.
Crfbb of Canandaigua; Richard h Gilman Oh
onondaga: Arthur Warren. of Roehestet' anu
County Attorney Norton, OF Buffalo ail Oh "i.oi'
said their localities favored the Tesoiu'i""' M
White said. in part:
The constitutional amendment requires that the
$50 900 900 provided under the amendment snail be
IS proposed that one mile in ten OF all of the miles
of highway in each of the counties snaIl ue I'M I'M
f4oco miles of highway the impro@%ement @ OF ~ & per
highways which, it is estimated. be improved
AT an average cost of 5000 mile, making total
that this 100000 be expended at the rate OF
$4,000 year, SO that II will take ten years n
which TO complete the entire main highway system
Of the State. The State OF New-foTk mas con con
drej niles of road at an expense of s567OOcO. Civ
Ing Ing an 1i-slS average cost Of $500 a mile
WAYS? You must not lose sight OF the fact that
during the same ten years the 10 per cent OF n tne
these expensive roads, the other 80 per cent un-
state of perfection by the contributions of the
State in giving 90 cents State aid to each town for
The state Of New-York is different from Ohio,
Indiana and Illinois in that our M hills ,3 and IL Valleys
fines through these valleys. which run chiefly
500 miles of steam road has the Hudson River
and Mohawk Valley sections overdeveloped by rail
valleys. leaving only 5000 miles of steam road
70 care for the local Tsa OF the rest Of m the STAT
miles OF area has 1900 miles OF steam road caring
for the State of New-YorS to improve its highways
than 1t is for Ohio. NewYork State contains one
no,hing has been done to enable the farm produce
Of our own own State State TO reach p Pe9Pe @ at cheaper
The development OF through transportation in
freight rates the continent its railroads.
by putting them in competition with the canals has
reduced transportation costs as to enable the
State Of New-Fork TO control the cheapest freight
the continent The result of this has
been provide our home markets with food prod
ucts from the West rather than from own
farms. This has decreased the value of our own
farm lands until during the last ten years the
State of New-Ycrk leads all OF the States in the
Union in the depreciation Of farm values. This
state Of affairs can be stopped by the intelligent
and rapid Improvement OF main highways,
bringing our own home products to our own home
markets and it is for this reason that we urge the
proVement.
The West bin providing for town systems OF good
roads to be constructed individually without the
aid OF the Hgbie-Armstrong law, advanced in
the Assembly to-day without opposition. and will
come up for final passage tomorrow or Friday.