The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-17
NEW coon ROADS BILL.
Proposed Amendments to the Highway Law
introduced In the senate,

ALBANY. March Ex-senator Armstrong
introduced to-day in the Senate the highway
amendments on behalf of the supervisors
executive committee. They are all amend
ments TO the present statute and provide
that during the year 1906 the State Engineer
and Surveyor shall consult with the boards
of supervisors and the town boards of each
own and place upon a county and town
map the highways in each town deemed
of sufficient importance by the tow board
to he the main market roads, suitable in
their opinion TO ne a part of a county sys-
TEN of highways, and the roads so desig-
mated on this map are not to be limited
in milea ge.
From this map the State Engineer is
to prepare and submit in his annua report
of 1905 to the Legislature a map showing
which highways of those above designated
he deems most important and to be first
improved, taking into consideration the
p~reatest volume Of tonnage carried in
each locality and the accommodation pro-
vided for the greatest number Of people.
The maps are TO be open to public inspection
and are to form an equitable apportion-
ment of the highways to the respective
counties.
An appropriation bill is to be introduced
later, which will probably provide for
| four OF five millions of dollars, being the
State, county and town portion of the
| cost OF the highways 10 carry on co%nstruc-
| ton during the present year in those coun-
ties that are now waiting.
In regard to the payment of the cost
the bill provides that the counties and
towns may pay the same as heretofore
County and town charges being usually
paid in CASH, or they may request that
the State in the first instance pay the whole,
! and that the county's So per cent. and the
towns 10 per cent. he certified to the County
20 be paid from time to time from the an
nual tax levy as provided in the bond issue.
In order that no county or town may remain
in debt and pay interest on the debt 1t Is
provided that they may purchase the high
way Improvement bonds, deliver them
10 the Comptroller to be cancelled and that
| the Comptroller shall also cancel the obliga-
ton of the town or county to an amount
equal to the face value OF the bonds can
celled.
The maintenance clause is the one that
the highway convention has been asking
for and ia based upor the Massachusetts
statute. H. calls upon the State Engineer
to maintain the road from the minute lts
construction is completed and authorizes
him to enter into contract with the town or
county. or a private contractor or person,
or himself maintain the roads so that they
shall be in constant repair. The cost OF
this is $50 a mile or fraction OF a mile Tor
each tow in each year taking advantag e
of his road Improvement. Any money
in excess of this amount required for the
ordinary care of the roads is provided by
an annual appropriation Of the Legislat,
IRE. the same as the maintenance fund
for the canal is provided, an estimate as to
the amount required being iurnlshed them
by the State Engineer.
The bill also provides that villages may
hay the benefit OF these improved high
ways constructed for the purpose of MAX
ing a connecting link, and the expense
thereof to he raid 80 per cent. by the State
az Inv the county and 10 by the town, and
that thereafter these roads shall be main
tanned bv the village trustees under the
direction Of the State Engineer.