Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-05-01
Commissioner MaCdOnaId'S Report
CONTINUED

firmly convinced that no remedy has
been suggested that Will equal the use
of coal tar for preserving macadam
road that has already been built and
prevent the dust evil in so far as that
As possible.
4 great convention was neld in Paris
last summer 10 take up this newer
question Of how TO lay the dust. and
preserve the roads, and it was attend
ed by delegates from al over the civil
lied world. The necessity for this con-
vention was the fact which had forced
itself into recognition that unless
something was done the entire road
systems OF the civilized world would
break up and make of non-effect all
that money and science had done in
the way Of Improvements for centuries.
From an autheatie source-no less
person than NJ. BarthoH. minister of
public works Of trance-+the announce
ment was made that the national high
ways in the Seine department were in
such a state Of disrepair that 1t would
cost $4600,00 TO bring them into their
former condition of usefulness and
have them competent to sustain and
take care of the travel they are called
upon to bear. In England last year an
expenditure of $s9.000,000. WAS neces-
sary to take care of the 10000 miles
Of road--both for new construction and
also for repairs From every part of
dict of commissioners in charge of
highway construction is that some
thing will have to be done, and that
speedily, to take care of their several
systems. So that it is not d new con
dtiOn peculiar to our state. our state
has been very fortunate in this re-
spect We have not reached the point
of bowling calamity as yet. After
careful investigation over all Of our
, macadam roads that have been con-
Gle se
for immediate alarm. 1t is simply
question Of providing for the best and
most economical methods for the flu
ture care and maintenance of our roads
and not 50 much from the fear of
complete and utter humiliation of our
road system today that the remedy to
he used upon our state highway sys-
TENS should be put into operation.
MISUNDERSTANDING the last three
years the use of the automobile on our
highways has become very general.
This is due 10 the fact that the sum
total Of automobiles manufactured and
sold in our country during the years
1905, 1907 and 1908 very nearly equal
ed the entire number Of automobiles
now in use The industry has grown
by leaps and bounds, and. by a rather
singular coincidence, the macaGam
roads not only in this country but alsJ
abroad have shown greater amount
of wear and the necessity for repair
than ever before. Commissioners in all
of the states operating under a. STATE
aid plan have without a dissenting
voice expressed their opinion that
fully so per cent. Of the wear upon
macaoam roads is caused BIZ the auto
mobile. In Frauce-whOse roads have
been The admiration Of the world-the
highest road building authorities have
stated that the principal highways
have gone into such a state Of disre-
pair that the expense of putting them
back viii run UP into millions Of dol
lars. IN England seven counties near
London report that the percentage of
increase in cost of care and mainte-
nance claimed to be due to the use of
the automobile has been from % to Il
per cent. In Massachusetts. the high
way commission claims that about So
per cent of the destruction to state
highways is due to the automC bile. and
that it win require 100000 to make
repairs next year. Last year New Ter
sey exper ded 100000 in repairs.
What is claimed by such eminent
authorities, and from our own expert
cnce we are in duty bound to ackno,v-
ledge. But automobiles are here to
stay. They are licensed to go upon
our highwaya The attraction is suit
GENTLY great to reasonably conclude
that they are an important part, to
say the least, Of the traffic that viii
have to be taken care of,upOn the main
highways of the state. Those who owr
and operate cars are sufficiently nu-
merous and influential to command re-
spect. and the proposition therefore
EiInplides itself into the very reason
able conclusion that we must build orr
roads and maintain them to take care
Of this new traffic.
The rubber tire has proven itself as
being the best shoeing for the wheel
The method Of propulsion. with the
principle involved. also suggests that
Inc shearing process on our roads will
90 on. The suction from the tire and
the draft between the wheels and UNI
Ger The body viii continue just as long
s. automobiles are used on our roads
The delightful sensation Of a rapidly
moving car has such am irrepressibly
eNhIlarating attraction that the speed
of the car to the limit Of its motive
power viii be INDUCED i'm by all those
VINO own and operate cars. There has
been very little question about the
width Of the tires or the weight Of the
car or its many appointments. The
whole interest seems to be centered in
the ques- OF attaining and maintaining
nigh rate of speed, and the last right
or privilege that gentlemen who own
and operate ears would desire to have
taken from them is that Of running a
ear with perfect freedom. and the last
right or privilege which would be
parted with reluctantly is the entire
cause OF the new destruction and dis
tntegratiOn imminent upon our high
way system. So that the only remedy.
in the last analysis, Of this whole
question is that if we are TO maintain
al OF the rights and privileges to those
who operate cars we must provide
Some way to construct our roads and
maintain them If We are to have a
first class system Of highways. The
expense of so doing viii be large. The
money for keeping mp our roads must
be had from some source
The charges today for the use of au-
tomobiles on our highways do not be-
SIN to adequately take care of this
question Of care and maintenance Not
car operating upon our highways to-
day is assessed anywhere near as much
IS all vehicles formerly paid under the
Old toll gate system, while the roads
were very nearly, if not at all times
almost impossible.
The money received for repairs from
automobile registrations for 1907 was
100000. The money received from au-
romobiles and operators and bonds
and fines during 1908 amounted to
S57445.75.
As an example of how much money
is required to keep the roads in repair
il is only necessary to state the fact
that on the maCadam system in the
state-which represents about one
half the total mileage Of roads improv-
ed under st&te and since 1895-it would
cost $l50000 to furnish and apply wa