The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-12-06
NOTHING TO FEAR.
(Ansonia sentinel.l

The statement is made that the it- tie towns throughout Connecticut are organizing to defeat the plan of the Connecticut Good Roads association to provide more permanent paving for the trunk lines crossing the state in both directions. Opposition is based upon the fear that the small towns will be deprived of their usual appropriations for road improvement and mainten- ance and because some of them assert that the trunk lines will be of benefit only to the autornobihsts. The fear is unnecessary and unreal and pro- ceeds apparently from a lack of com prehension of what the Connecticut Good Roads association proposes to do.
 In the first place, the movement of the Connecticut Good Roads asSOcia- tfon is entirely independent of and will not affect in the least the appropria- ton and distribution of state money for a continuation of the building of good roads under the plan that has been carried on in this state for the past twelve or more years. Were the Connecticut Good Roads association to interfere in the matter at all 1t would be with purpose and desire to en- large this work and improve it wher- ever possible in the belief that the lateral branches would contribute to a more easy and rapid comm munica ton throughout the state. While it is true that the trunk lines would be of great aid to automobilfsts they would also be Of very material benefit to all users of the highways. especially the far
 
 centers of population throughout the state and thus render home markets
 more easily and more rapidly access ible. It will thus be seen that the movement has not been begun exclu- sive1y in the interests of automobiI- ists but has kept in mind all users of the state roads and has included them all in it's provision.
 That the small towns are immediate ly benefited by these proposed trunk lines is shown in the fact that sixty frrlE 4-4- eight towns in the state are traversed by these trunk lines. In close prox- unity to these improved roads are oth- CT towns that would find advantage in their construction almost as great as the towns through which the lines pass. Inhabitants of small villages and farmers living in these adjacent towns would have short approach to the permanently improved roads and when once gained could travel in any direction desired Thus the number be greatly enlarged and almost the whole state would be brought to share in the proposed benefits of the Con necticut Good Roads association.
 A notable case of benefit of this character was recently related in the eastern pant of the state. A farmer living some distance outside of New London was accustomed to sell his pro- duce in that market. He lives off one of the present improved roads and uses two teams to draw his farm prv ducts 10 the state road. There the contents of one wagon is loaded upon the other which easily conveys both loads into the New London market, while the other returns to the farm and prepares for the next days jour ney. By alternatior with the teams the produce is quickly and rapidly conveyed to market and the value that we are trying to point out for the ro o~e nernanent roads ifs directly es- tab1ished.
 lne little towns have nothing to fear whatever from this new road On the contrary, they will be much benefited by it. TEe build ing of better roads will be greatly stimuIalte and money will be saved to the state in repairs because of the sa1- perior quality of the construction pro- jected, and generally the interests of the state will be largely promoted.