The morning journal-courier., 1908-11-07
AUTO MEN GATHER
Hear Senator Bulkeley Compare
 Cars With Voting Machines for Uncertainty.
STATE ROADS CONSIDERED
Iiartford's City Engineer Thinks Many
 Bridges Across Our Highways I Are Unsafe,
lsncNlal to the Jonrnnl-fnnrlcr.l

Al tsnecinl to the Journal -COurlcr) Hartford, Nov. 6-There were about 100 members of the Automobile as- sociation of Connecticut present at the 1 meeting held at the Allyn house to- Il day and an interesting session was spent, Before the regular meeting the d Hartford club gave a large luncheon at the Allyn house at which Senator J Morgan c, Bulkcloy, Mayor Edward Hooker of this city, City Engineer N Ford and Colonel George Pope were Nthe guests of honor
 M Senator Bulkeley amused the mem bers who gathered at luncheon with ksome humorous comparisons of the rdifiiculties of operating an automobile h with that of a voting machine. He said the latter left the man with little M falth in mechanics rather uncertain as to whom he has voted for or whether he has voted at all,
 Senator Bulkelcy referred, In gen. eral way, to the recent auto accidents but aroused q great deal of enthu- 'iasm by assuring the members of the elub that conservative automobilists had little to fear from hostile action m the part of the next legislature against Connecticuts present model aw" "A good law is still good law Although 1t may be violated, If the siolators are brought to book" said he senator.
 One of the features of the meeting no VtslI rvi,, 'ord of this city read after the lunch ,on. His topic was the care of roads s relating to the safety of automobil- sts, and he dwelt largely upon the unsafe condition of many of the ridges on highways in this state. He aid that great many of them were objected to serious strains which he cit some could hardly stand and that ven on the main highways where here were steel and concrete bridges ge, neglect or careless construction robably rendered some of these un- afe, on account of inferior construc- on He recommended for the safety all concerned that every bridge hould he inspected mnutely at least .nce each year.
 Continuing he said in part.
 Inasmuch as the state, by action of le last legislature, has entered upon
 broader and more liberal policy of Improving Connections highways. il eems as though the hignway commits oner should he vested with authority tp inspect highwa} bridges. and to or Ter those found to he defective re- aired or rebuilt He should also. in t.ly judgment. pass upon the design,
 mensions, material and method of pnstructon of all new bridges, where ate highways are to he built
 believe that within the next five ' ten years a great many of the pres ht highway bridges will have to be Extensively repaired or entirely re- Iiilt; and the new structures will scessarily have to be much stronger nd heavier than those replaced, in l'der to meet the modern require tents of highway traffic.
 There Is another good reason why
 ghway bridges should be strength led where weak The use of the favy steam roadrolers for highway tork s rapidly increasing, and it
 ems great waste of time and
 oney to send these rollers in round
 out courses between points. because .e highway bridges upon the shorter
 more direct lines will not support Rem. If l am correctly informed 'e automobile owners of Connecticut
 nually contribute over S50,000 for ;a maintenance of state highways Ntder these circumstances would it st be wise to encourage legislation Erecting that small proportion of
 g sum-,say so, 000-should be spent s,h year by the state highway com kssioner for a systematic and thor sgh inspection of all highway dges, where improvements are tt .,9 made under state aid