Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-01-11

Has lne ". >. -. portsmouth as its
training ship. This is a sailing vessel
of the old type, and is not q satisfac-
tory ship for the battalion. Provision
should be made at the present session
of h Legislature for a sufficient APP
preparation to assure the securing of a
proper steam power vessel for the bat
talon, application should be made
to the secretary of the navy TO assign
Il suitable ship of this class for the use
of this battalion.
AT the Hendrick Hudson celebration,
the State had reason to be proud of
the representation of its National
Guard, in the Fourth New Jersey,
which participated in the land parade
upon that occasion; and also of the
part taken by the First Battalion OF
the Naval Reserve on the u. S. S.
Portsmouth in the naval part of the
celebration.
If. the entire militia of the State could
have been present, New Jerseys con-
tribution to that historic celebration
would have demonstrated the efficiency
and soldierly qualities of our. entire
National Guard.
State Highways.
In my last annual message | outlined
a plan for a system of State highways
in connection with the ocean boule-
ward, n the Legislature took steps
looking to a. compliance with the sug-
gestion then made, by the enactment
of chapter thirty-three of the laws of
1909. That act appointed a Highway
Commission, consisting of the Gov
ernor. the President Of the Senate, the
Speaker of the House and the commits
sioner of public roads.
During the past year this commission
|.has held several meetings, and at least
one public hearing, which hearing par
took largely of the nature of a confer
ence With the boards of freeholders
and other officers in the counties lying
along the Atlantic Ocean.
The Highway Commission has made
a report. which will be presented to
you. and they recommend the crea-
ton Of a system Of highways to be
maintained at State expense, and to
run from county seat to county seat and
connect with an ocean boulevard along
the Atlantic Ocean. This system of
highways will have q length of S53
miles, and il carried out will establish
in Il State a system OF public roads
which will not be equalled in any
State in the Union. They will not
only be fine roads, but the variety Of
scenery in the territory through which
they pass will not be surpassed by any
system of highways in the nation.
The highways Of New Jersey are now
noted for their excellence, and this
plan will increase their notoriety and
draw to u State many thousands of
persons, and thus result in great adj
vantage to all our t~radespeople. Aside
from this, the benefit to the agricul-
tural sections OF the State win be pc
You'd estimation. The annual cost of
maintaining such a system of high
ways, after they are once thoroughly
constructed, Is estimated by the Road
Commission at s275, 900.
Some of the roads within the route
proposed by the Highway Commission
are not yet improved. As to this, they
recommend. that they be improved
under the State road act, but that the
percentage which the State shall con
tribute toward the unimproved part of
the route shall be one-half of the total
cost, The reason for this Is that the
existing improved roads in the route are
much worn and will need quite a little
repairing at the expense of the State.
while the roads TO be constructed will
be new and without the necessity of
repair for some time.
The automobile fees which, during the
last fiscal year., under the present law
amounted 10 s2i5. 1860. can be utilized
for maintenance. With this system of
highways our automobile fees should be
! increased about one-third above that