Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1912-04-26

man has terribly developed his brutality.
Filled with the intoxication of high
speed ano reckless disregard for others
lives and comfort, he may, very likely,
go home and beat his wife that night,
for the first time in his whole career. |
Many case of wife beating has been
the offspring of carelessness to other
peoples welfare born in fast-running
motor car.
Nor is this growing menace to the
lives of innocents the only peril which
has sprung from speed mania. There
is a great financial danger which is
getting far too little thought. This is
involved in the great question of good
roads. Urged on by the love of speed
upon smooth highways, we are throwing
perfectly good money into hot fire in
all parts of this country.
at is not a pleasant thing for the
taxpayer to contemplate the waste of
half billion of the peoples money, but
in the next ten years at least that much
and very likely more, may very easily
be wasted if we do not take thought in
time. We have appropriated $40, 000,-
600 in New York State for good roads,
and another bill has passed, and is,
while we are talking here, waiting for
the signature of Gov. Dix, which it may
get or be refused before this article is
printed, appropriating $50, 900, 600 more.
If the Governor signs it it will this year
be submitted to the people for approval.
Throughout the country many bills of a
like nature have been passed in the
State Legislatures or are now waiting
for consideration. In the aggregate
these bills provide for the expenditure
of an amazing list of millions.
al was one of the first workers for
good roads; no man more than believes
in them. But-well, there are lot of
butts. The National Good Roads Asso-
citation, with Offices in Washington,
called and held congress. This de-
veloped the fact that an unfortunate
detail of the good roads movement, as
it is to-day, lies in the circumstances
that it has been taken up as means of
craftsmanship. A large part of the
workers for the great oads-improve-
ment schemes at present before Con-
gress and the Legislatures will be found
upon investigation, to be men with axes
waiting to be ground-with machinery
or with material to sell. Such men dc
not always work with the best interests
of the public at heart.
The mere building of the roads be
comes rank extravaganza unless ar
adequate provision is, at the same time
made for their maintenance. The tai
must not wag the dog in this intensely
vital matter. Already there are indi
cations of dissatisfaction with some
roads which have been built through
New York State, not only because
having built them. the people find then
lasting not so long as was expected ant
discover that there are not sufficien
funds with which to keep them in re
pair, but because the scheme ha
principally concerned main roads, with
out givings laterals the great considera
ton due them. The man who finds him
, self just able to haul six hundred pound
with good team upon the road whic
passes by his farm is not very great
benefited by the fact that on the Stat
!, road, which, before he reaches town h
will for short distance travel, tn
same team could haul ton.
"Nor is there any very striking wis
dom in the construction of good road
if there is not provision for thei
proper usage. There is to-day nothin
8 to prevent the haulage through tn
streets of New York city of a true
:, which carries fifty tons. Structural iro
= has been trucked across our asphalt i
such quantities upon one vehicle that
its trail were left two valleys in tn
y, asphalt where the wheels bore, an
every manhole cover in its route We
smashed. Similarly, there are no Stat
y laws at present, to prevent the wrecl
age of good roads as fast as they al
' laid, and, by reckless auto driving ar
the sin of loads too heavy for the
surfaces, this is continually going OF
" To build good roads without providir
for their repair and maintenance ar
" without safeguarding them against in
proper usage is to throw the money
= the people into the waste basket"
= "How much money should be S,
= aside for maintenance? asked.
= 1.-The annual cost of upkeep may /
" figured at 0per cent of the first cost,
Ie Col. Cornell answered "Under Il
present system, a road will be destroyt
. within ten years. Manufacturers,