The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1907-05-02

10 Farmers Want Radial Highwaysz

4. ss&m
Do Farmers Want Radial Highwaysz
Foreseeing objections to the .
through" roads proposed in some
States, this magazine presented in it's
February issue some \of the argu-
ments for and against making high
ways to extend in direct line, over
long distances. That article covered
a comparatively small part of the
question, which seems to have come
up for consideration by the lawmak-
ers of New York State.
Report says that a plumber Of
members of the New York Assembly.
now in session, are much concerned
lest legislation proposed should give
to automobilists great through high,
ways, which it is asserted would be-
little more than speedways, and,
would not give good roads to the
farmers and small towns.
Reasons offered for these fears are
that such through roads would benz
eft the agricultural interests Of the
State but little, and their local mar
kets scarcely any; that these inter-
ests pay half the cost Of road in1-
provement, by direct taxation, and.
pay another part of that cost by CON-
tributions to~the State revenues, an6f
that because of this whatever State
money does go to make good roads
should be spent for improving the
highways the farmer must use before
any Of it should go to make loag and
costly through roads.
1t may be admitted frankly that
any proposal to construct such im-
proved through road, say from Al-ss
bany to Buffalo, would afford to the
farmer and other opponents otssuch
plan arguments which in few other
places in this country would have 50
much of force as they would have in
= New York, because such through
road in this State would doubtless be-
nearly parallel to and nowhere far
from the Erie Canal, to the New
York Central and to the West Shore.
railroads. 9s I
Along each of these three lines of
transportation local markets area
strung closely, therefore products OF
farms near them need be moved only
e a short distance eastward or west.:
ward. Because they are used bY.
many people, the public roads .conA
: Meeting these local markets are. Q,
rule, in a condition better than that
of roads leading northward or SOUTH
ward from them. ...sss
For these reasons some may-cou-,
tend that State money for road ims
provement should first go to make
better all roads having for, their main
purpose saving in the cost Of moving
products from farm to local MARKETS..
and that the making of long through!
roads should wait until such shorter,
roads, radiating from many local.
points, would run together or meet.
and so make through lines of high;
ways. 81
But these views meet only q few or
the conditions of this question. Ills.
asserted that the cities, of Buffalo and
New York together will pay eighty
five per cent, or $42,500, 600 OF the.
$50,000,000 which New York State Ia
to use for improving its public roads.
If it be supposed that two through,
highways were made from the east-.
ern to the western limits OF this.
State, they would be about 400 mica:
in length, or together small fractions
more than one per cent. of the totais
mileage of public roads in the State; /;
At $4,000 per mile they would cost: !:
I $3,200,000, which would equal GA !,
per cent. of the $50,000 900 the
State has appropriated for road im-s
proyement. ss,wssssssss'--,-'A-- - -. Z.
| Were Buffalo and New York Cityl
to pay 42.5 per cent. of that sum.
they would lea We only $3.50 900 to-
be paid by all the other cities and by
the country districts, toward conf
structing improved highways, which,
would be open for free use by all ora
dinary vehicles, including automo-j.
biles of various classes.
If two such through thoroughfaress
were so made and turned over. forsss
use by automobiles and other motor
vehicles, to the exclusion Of all oth-,s;
ers, and if the two roads would cost.
$3,200,000, to be paid wholly from
the s50,O00,000 appropriated, $46.-,s
100000 of that appropriation would Z
remain, and Of this sum the two cities
named would contribute $19,890,000.::.
or enough to pay for more than SIX
through roads across the whole
length of the State.
So far the country districts seem 3
to have little just cause for CONF
planning of their part Of the bargain
for road improvement.-Good Roads
Magazine.
A Good Suggestion.