Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-01-07

Il amended as to clearly provide safe
guards that would protect all except
the perpetrators, aiders. instigstors, or
abettors of the Illegal act.
Highways.
The adoption OF definite and liberal
policy by the state with respect to the
good roads movement ct the last ses-
sion of the general assembly. the in
crease in commercial traffic during re-
cent years, and the very general adop
ton of the automobile, have together
! operated to make the problem of high
way improvement one OF the most i'm
| portant before US today.
That the extensive operations along
this line planned by the vote of the
general assembly two years ago is ex-
| ceeGiDGly pOIul;ir has been demon
| strated by the quick response of the
towns willing to assume their share
! OF the cost, as well as by the popular
! desire for greater speed in the prose-
cution of the work committed to the
highway commissioner.
! There appears to be a popular i'm
! preston that the work of this de-
| Dartment has not been prosecuted
| with vigor How mistaken this is is ap-
! parent from the fact that the past year
! nlneiy-iiye contracts have been
! awarded. entailtug an obligation on
{ thc part Of the state of about $780,
/ esq, ana representing about 100 miles
f., Of road. IN aGdition to. this there has
! rcseeo unor the highway commissioner
] the burCcu Of systematizing the re-
! pairs OF over 500 miles of road ana
! the apportionment Of a very limited
/ sum Of money for these repairs-a
sum totally inadequate for the work.
Notwithstanding the inadequacy Of
! the propriation, however, over 90
1 GOO tons of stone and several thousand
! cubic yards OF gravel were sent out, !
| and over 500 miles Of road were turn
| piked and shaped up.
! l am convinced from an eXamind-
ton of the conditions of this depart
ment that the present commissioner
I IS very much handicapped by the /
SmallneSs of the appropriation given I
! him for administrative work. and that /
| he is thereby compelled to take upon /
! his own shoulders much labor thai |
! under more liberal conditions ne /
could deUutize to others.
For example the expense of admin Z
! istration of this department in Goa /
necticut has been about IL per
cent, While in Massachusetts it has /
been IA 1-2 per cent. Under The pres /
ent law the commissioner has the !
/ power to appoint deputies. engineers. !
and inspectors. but the appropriation /
4 will not allow him To do 50 TO a very |
great extent.
The commissioner should have |
money enough TO pay for first class |!
engineer in his office so that me may (
be relieved Of a large part OF the de- |
tail work. and county engineers who |
can surround themselves with assist |
ants and do TIE work in their re-
speclive counties. He should be given /
the power and responsibility Of So
leecin2 these assistants and should 1
receive Your earnest support i'm keep !
ing this great public enterprise abso- |
lutely BEYOND reach as means Of /
! T-srts f.r.,. 4 HY..-
would only hamper ne work and (
! would defeat any effort To prosecute |
TT along economical aud scientific /
lines.
Having embarked upon an extensive |
scheme Of highway work the state /
cannot now afford 10 delay it by false /
economy. and it shoS6 be one Of /
your first duties to give attention to /
this department.
Automobile Traffic.
The automobile is no longer merely /
pleasure vehicle. but is now 2 val
uatle engine o. commerce. a neces- (
sary meanf Of quick and easy traffic /
aud DISTRIBUTOR Of wealth. & has
already increased aud viii continue 1
to increase the vslue or suburban
lands. and its Socisl use has brought /
a vast sum OF money into the sta tC
from adjoining states and thus con- |
trbUted to oar general prosperity. |
We nave wisely adopted laws th3t en-,
courage the manufacture and use Of
the motor vehicles.
It IS not surprifins that its opera
worthy haHds and that they have |
been tie cause of some distressing sc-
cidents. The great majority Of auto
mobile users arc careful and law
abiding. I am sure they will well
come any step YOU NAV take to Sc
IN os1-1 II
seems to me necessary that YOU
SHOULD give attention 10 the points OF
greatest danger. the crowded streets
OF our cities. and pass such supple
mentary laws as viii operate to re-
dUce the perils to pedestrians at those
points.
II has been suggested that the Sc
lectment of the towns be given the
power as i'm some other states, to
close at their discretion such road
ways as are not state highways or
main highways between towns and
are NOT suitable for general mo-
tor traffic. There are such roads that
are too narrow or are in bad condi-
tiou for such traffic. aud its removal |
while not infic,iug any hardship.
might contribute to the public safety.
Forestry.
Our people are at last aroused to
the Importance of the forests 10 our |
industrial future and even to the pup (
lie health. The woodlands Of Con I
necticur have been cut off 50 rapidly
in recent years that we are now face
to face with the dangers Of freshet on
the one hand and water famine on |
the other because natures provision
for regulating the flow Of water has
in large part been destroyed.
1t was agreed by the represe nta-
rives OF the various New England for
estrv associations presDt at the Bos
ton conference that the measures
necessary for the development Of for
estrv in Connecticut are Prevention
of forest fires: the creation Of tie
state forests in the various wooded
regions of the state: and reform in
forest taxation The present fire
warden service should be strength
ened BY co-Opera ton Of the railroads,
the principal agents responsible for
fires. We have now several small
forests which serve as examples of
good forestry measures. The acdui-
sition OF large tracts by the state will
not only be remunerative investments.
but are the most practical means of
interesting private owners There
should be commission appointed to
forest land with q Wow Of suggesting
legislation two years hence.
Prison Problems.
The revenues Of Connecticut state
prison for the past fiscal year footed
up $7S.S5G. a figure surprising the
record for any previous twelvemonth.
Managed along progressive lines. this
institution is now able. from the earn