New-York tribune., 1909-02-01
nECRIES ROAD DAMAGE
REPORT OF Mr.. SKENE.
Ne.c Methods Must Be Found to
Control injury by 4utos.

.-bs-v. Jan 81 note Of warning against the
x,-,sre which is being done 10 the improved high
- af the state BY automobiles IS sounded by
---l5e-cf Skene. formerly State Engineer and Sur
- ~ his annual report the Legislature. Nj
ere-e who was succeeded On January ! by State
77rp5nesr Frank Williams, suggests that The
+rs4Fc which produces this disastrous result must
- restricted. new methods. however expensive,
-sr he used in construction TO meet the condi-
,,ons which confront US
..Te1es any sane man who has followed this ques-
.,o1 M Szene asks believe for moment that
80 first alternative will be realized7 It follows
-be- that The sooner the second alternative IS
.5o7re5 the bitter for al concerned.
Pines and license fees 70 any reasonable extent.
5o NOT reach the root Of the difficulty, will
thev meet more than 1.-THE OF the expense in
vclved-
Happily for my successors. the legislature In
its WISDOM, mas 1T to transfer the response
hfftv Of meeting this erlersent problem from the
SHOULDERS Of this department Under these circum-
Stances. suggestions as to future methods Of con-
etrucrIcn would ne obviously superauous- It is de-
1-outlv 70 be hoped that those who have been in
trusted with this responsibility viii be given wis
dom 10 meet it With desire whatever 10 hamper
-brir Efforts IN this direction and with this frank
ana final note Of warning TO the people of the state.
this department must Of necessity be content
The report deals at length with the subjects Of
highway Improvement and barge canal Construc-
rior. and reviews what has been accomplished
along those lines during the last year. In regard
70 highway Improvement II says:
Il Is believed that careful and unbiased review
q c3T Ia within the last Twelve months viii show
that the progress has been rapid and that the cost
Daring the calendar year 1908 awards to the
nov in force contracts for building l94 miles Of
canal the contract price toT these pelng Soo.0so:
nearly one-haf Of the whole project both in length
and in cost OF construction. is at present under
Most Of the important plans for the remainder Of
rhe barge canal ars completed and those which
sre not completed are ell under way
st-9cti6n Tork has been dofe~an amount which
almost two and one-alf times that OF 1g. ana eX-
latter part Of the last the work was progress
i is Of considerable interest to observe that OF
the work covered by the contracts now IN force the
estimates upon which the appropriation OF 1858 was
made amounted SIS 667.542 and that the subse-
Fere sS757352S and this Without sacrifice either OF
-s7a e1,1Ss+{f--io- Of locks fortv-fve feet in
width instead Of tNyenty-eight feet OF nn9yabIe
stead OF rock filled. timber crib dams, as originally
so 7e 1a Iu 81 " the cansI The contracts for
were let for the gross price OF S5oioie9T
r75ers' estimates. and greater saving Of ~ per
cent nom Ie app if az" 1et niles Of canal at
prices which total SS5.75eZ1S-
NJ skene renews his recommendation OF a year
sgc for federal aid for canalizing the Hudson
River between Congress street bridge, Troy, and
Waterford. de says:
The canal interests, as represented by the yaTi-
ne state are generally opposed TO federal aid in
constructing the main llne Of the barge canal
since IL IS thought that dependence on this ald
F3J1f II seems entirely just ask the general gov
eminent assist il the portions at the terTni OF
II is fairly well known that in the federal opeT-
aticns for Improvement Of the upper Hudson River
during the last five years. calculations
hive been based upon channel twelve feet deep
900 wide. The assertion Is made, howeye er
that we are have such channel at mean low
water. but the objection has been made that at
:1e height Of the uavisabie season. when the river
boets loaded with their heaviest trelghts, the
mean phase IS nOn-existent and that we
actually have extreme low water, which Is prac-
standard This gives but q ten-fOot channel
which at two points, least IS not more than
fifty feet wide. Here steamers OF size dare not
meet pass eECeIiI I1Sk o. accident Inc Al
hsnv Chamber of Commerce has for several years
fe=A urging a deeper channel for the Hudson
Within year 50, in order 10 realize the beneht
n added strength from those interested, CORE
E-7,l7tlce has been had with the officials OF var1-
r7,s places along the Hudson River. This has
suited in tbs organization OF the HUDSON ttlFeI
Enforcement Association. which advocates a TWEEN
foot channel in the Hudson connecting with
-re terminus O barge canal at " Waterford
To gain the added strength Of cooperation
have Joined forces with these state ana natloIla1
associations, thus hoping 20 obtain proper outlet
from the present terminus OF the barge canal at
Waterford I the port Of New YORK IN making
this spDeal for aid seems wise that the govern
Tne-t should be peIiJiOned also TO assume respon-
sihsIirv fer harbor facilities in Lake 1harnplatn
81 the port II Whitehall and ii Like Ontar7o at
thz port q OSwego. l.
sbe need OF improved terminal facilities Tor the
canal 1ra1c the ports OF Buffalo and New y C>l-
50 that the capacity of the barge canal shall not
hs limited by the present inadequate provisions
worthy CT speedy and careful consideration.