Connecticut western news., 1911-01-19
ARGUES FOR
 MORE ROAD REPAIRS

Calls Attention to Stretch ot Pike This
 Side of East Canaan and Advocates
 Top Dressing of Crushed Stone.
 Editor News: Considering the large expense to the town in the construction and maintenance of it's state roads per haps the following clipped from the New York York Tribune might interest the town officers and taxpayers:
 The complaint of damage to park roads by automobiles ia vigorously re- newed and is probably we'll founded. At all seasons of the year those vehicles have in several respects an injurious effect on macadam and telford pave- ments. In dry weather, in summer, by virtue of their speed and probably also their peculiar formation, they sweep off the dust and fine surface stones, ex posing the larger stones which lie be- low and which should always remain covered. In wet weather, and especial ly in winter, their chain-olad wheels cut and grind into the roadbed and make ruts and holes. These things have been too often observed to be doubted. Indeed, it is not likely that any denial of them would take place, the S1OuAo k0hcn Dy dubOIuOD1llSVS DSlnR- and 1t is by no means without force that their vehicles are lawful and so useful as to be practically indispensable and that it Is incumbent upon the oity to make roads which will endure them. We are inclined to think, however. that the damage to the roads is chiefly If not entirely superficial and does not. as some reports would make it appear, involve the very foundation of those excellent pieces of telford and macad am. If in some cases it has gone deeper, that Is probably because there has been neglect to repair surface breaks and erosions promptly. The secret of good roads lies in maintenance as much as in original construction. But it is also probable that many of these surface injuries might be prevented by avoid ance of the abuses to which motor cars are too often subjected. A speed of 10 miles an hour would do little harm to the roads, and that is aa fast a rate as should be permitted in the park. And while 'skidding' is to be avoided, it may we'll he questioned whether for that puEpose it is lawful to employ devices which ruin the roads.n
 The writer has heard many townsmen express and opinion that it is all g mis. take to spend so much money on roads only to have them destroyed in a couple of seasons by the host of Rutomobiles Nevertheless the auton6bEfB ls q lawful and almost Indispensable vehicle and since autoists are themselves bearing a large share of the cost of road building, the state demanding a large license fee for all machines operated on the high. ways, it is no moro than just that they should have good roads.
 We have here in Canaan some pieces of state road sadly in need of repair, especially portion of the East Canaan road between the Bigelow corner and the Whittlesey cottage. Even the main streets of the village are in none too good condition; if they were there would not be such demand for more crosswalks.
 Let us have more top dressings of crushed rock such as has been placed on East Main street recently.
 Keep the roads in good condition they are ono of the towns most valuable assets. Yours for Good Roads,
 "AUTOIsT. l"
 East Canaan, Jan. IA,