New-York tribune., 1910-01-06

which, after the most rigid scrutiny. does
way will the public interest in the forests
be parted with or jeopardized
CANALS
The contracts In force for the barge
canal Improvement amount In total price
10 s4S229.467, and the contract value OF
the work performed to December /. 1908,
was $15.S21.275 1t is estimated by the
State Engineer and Surveyor that during
1910 work Will be completed amounting 10
Sl6,0OOo0O, and II is expected that tne
work for the entire length of the barge
canal system VIII be under contract by
April ], 1910 AT the present rate of prog
reSS 1t is said that 1t Is not unreasonable
TO expect that the barge canal system will
be completed by the end of the year 1914.
1t is further stated that the work Is being
carried on within the original estimates
This enterprise should be pushed to com
pletion as speedily, economically and as
efficiently as possible.
1t is of great Importance that adequate
terminals for the barge canal should be
provided. and in accordance with the rec
the Superintendent of Public Works pro-
vision was made at the last legislative
session for proper inquiry in connection
with this subject. The commission ap
pointed by the Legislature is making
careful investigation to the end that suit
able terminal facilities may be secured,
and 1T is highly desirable that this inves-
ugation should be continued and be fol-
lowed by appropriate action.
HIGHWAYS
Important progress has been made in the
construction and improvement of our high
ways. OF the $40 miles of roads under con-
tract when the state Highway Com
mission entered upon its work at the be-
ginning of last year, 201 miles have been
completed and accepted, and of the
has been done in connection with these
roads supplemental agreements were made
for construction of LIZ miles of bituminous
macadam of which IS miles have been
completed.
During the last year there have been ex-
pended for the Improvement of county
roads 2,S1,261. Of which the state contrib
uted N,7S3S2l and the various counties ST.
W3,43f Special attention has been paid to
repair and maintenance. and $A1,050 were
expended during the last year upon roads
previously completed. Three hundred and
seventy-nVe miles of road have been oiled
with heavy asphalt oil and covered with
screenings or gravel.
The total amount available for town high
way purposes during the last year, which
commission. was $3 1872, of which there
was raised by highway tax on the towns
outside of Incorporated villages and cities
the sum 10 or 81 436 1873, and the state contrib
uted S1,365,533. There also raised for
bridge purposes $I47,340
AGRICULTURE.
Provision should be made to promote the
efficiency of the important work of the state
in the protection of the interests of agri-
culture and to afford suitable advantages
for agricultural education. In the chang
ing conditions of our life the prosperity of
the state requires the Improvement and in
creased appreciation of agricultural oppor
tunlties. and every practicable effort should
be made TO this end
During the last year an outbreak of the
foot and mouth disease in Western New
York and the appearance of the browntail
moth III Central and Eastern New York
were dealt with so efficiently that the last
trace of danger. was removed. In the light
or experience elsewhere this prompt action
has probably saved the state. and par
tlcularly those engaged In agriculture,
losses amounting to millions of dollars.
renew the recommendation that con-
sideration should be given to the subject of
proper supervision over the slaughtering of
animals in the State of New York and the
public health protected accordingly. The
state cannot rely upon the federal service,
as 1t does not reach establishments doing a
animals which could not pass federal in
srection are beng slaughtered within the
state and the meat is being constantly
sold upon our own markets This is not
only serious from the standpoint of the
public health, but is against the interest of
The livestock business of the state. I'M
prOVement should also be made in Connec-
ton with the inspection of milk for food
by such measures as will protect the public
and will conserve the just interests of the
Gairymen.
I again urge that there should be re-
vision of our laws so as to concentrate in
enc department the supervision of milk and
dairy products and the administration of
the pure food law, and thereby TO avoid
either conflict of statutory provision or un-
necessary duplication of work.
STREAM POLLUTION AND PUBLIC
HEALTH
The question OF protecting our streams
from impurities deserves your serious and
prompt attention. The dangers from sew
age pollution are so well known that no
argument is required to point the necessity
of insisting upon proper methods of sewage
disposal, and at the same time we should
proceed as rapidly as possible to free our
waters from the contamination of industrial
wastes There should be such amendment
of our present law as will give adequate au-
thOrity to deal with these matters by effec-
tive and impartial regulation, and exiting
provisions which are relied upon as afford
ing exceptions or immuntieS interfering
with such authority should be eliminated.
Gratifying progress has been made, but it
should be fastened and we should not only
remove hindranceS that are found in the
present laws but should Also particularly
in the case of industrial wastes, conduct
suitable laboratory experimentation under
state authority, so that difficult problems Of
disposal may promptly be solved.
AT the last session Of the Legislature it
was sought by suitable measures to pro-
vide checks against the spread of tuber
culOS1S. This movement should be strength
ened in every way that may be found ad-
Visable.
nave formerly called attention to our
anomalous system of supervision of the
sale of drugs under the present Board of
Pharmacy. The hill passed at the last seS-
sion with relation to this matter was dis
approved. as it did not provide for the CON
StitutiOn of ii board of suitable powers
the members of which should be properlv
designated by and amenable to state au-
thOrty. ] submit this subject for your fur
ther consideration.
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONS.
/ again recommend that the Public Ser
vice commissions law should be eXended
to telegraph and telephone companies, and
that these companies should be brought
under appropriate regulation as to rates
service and other matters similar TO thai
which has been provided for corporations
at present subject TO the law. The events
of the last year have served to emphasize
the Importance of adequate supervision and
regulation, and / know of no sound reason
for excluding these activities from the eS-
tablished policy of the state.
Such amendments of the Public Service
commissions law as experience has shown
TO be advisable. to improve its provisions
intent of the statute, should he supplied
! diSapprOved the consolidated railroad
law passed az the last session. because the
inclusion in the consolidated statute Gf en-
acted as WOrded) of the provisions of Sec
tionS 81 and SO of the railroad law with
regard to rates and charges. might form
the basis for a claim that 1t was the in
tention of the Legislature to continue these
provisions, notwithstanding the subsequent
enactment of the Public Service commits
SionS law. | advise the formal repeal OF
these provisions of the railroad law. And
revision. is enacted-the wisdom of which
is open to serious queStion-they should be