Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-10-19
COUNTY CREDIT
PLANF0R ROADS
Governor Advocates Speed in
Getting State Road Build
ing Program Finished

TRENTON, Oct. 19:-Advocating
a continuance of the State Highway
Commissions policy of getting the
road building program completed
with all possible speed by MAKING
use of county credit through the re-
endorsement plan, Governor Ed
wards today made public a letter 10
the highway commission outlining
his views in highway matters.
The governor also takes a fall
out of the Republican election plat
form. which criticised the highway
board for Its dilatory. inefficient
and expensive methods" and for
unnecessarily prolonging" the S
of detours in summer.
The governor points out that "he
is informed" that contracts for over
eighty miles of road, costing over
5000, 900, have been let by the new
commission, appointed last year by
him, an amount equaling that con-
tracted for by the old commission
in any two years of its existence.
Also, says the governor, the COM
mission is obligated to set aside n
million dollars a year for the con-
Aruction of a new bridge at Perth
RIIlDOyt III OldCI ~ ODtoAA
aid in building the structure. The
extensive road building, observes
Governor Edwards, together with
the money set aside for the bridge.
has made 1t necessary to absorb a
large percentage of the funds to be
collected under the mill tax in 1922.
Thomas ]. Wasser, state highway
engineer, states that the bridge fund
--.-.N- ~ Ira - IN fnfrrrn tow
es into 1923. Accordingly the gov
ernor, convinced that the people will
not stand for a halt in the building
in 1922, and which cannot
be pushed without further assist
ance of the counties under the Edge
law, asks the commission to consider
the ACCESSIBILITY of adopting a policy
providing for reimbursement in
1924, 1925 and 1926.
'The people will not tolerate any
cessation in the building of roads
says the chief executive. This feel
ing is not local, but Is general, and
the demand is very insistent. 1 am
of the opinion hat the Boards of
F'reeholders all over New Jersey will
be very glad to cooperate with the
highway commission in carrying out
such a policy"
A conference between the various
boards of freeholders and highway
commission is suggested, in order
that a program may be outlined.
There do not appear to be any
sections of the routes which are
unimportant," says the governor. 1t
would seem to me that a policy OF
proportionate reimbursement would
make this proposition generally at
tractive," he says. I'm other words.
o.u@i, oo~tfan - Tho runrk which
each county would be willing TO do
on main highway routes should be
reimbursed in 1924. Other portions
should be reimbursed in 1925 and
1925, the only charge on the county
being the interest and serial retire
ment charges. In the meantime, the
bounty would rear the benefit of the
speedily improved road"
An echo of last years attempt to
get legislative approval for the is
suance of 100000 900 in Dad bonds
f. contained in an admonition by
Governor Edwards to the effect that
state road mileage should not be
increased until such time as a nm
ancial policy a be provided by h
legislature to warrant such an in
crease."
"It is to be regretted, ~recites the
communication that there has been
criticism of the commission over the
fact that in building the eighty d
miles of road it has been necessary
to establish detours. This criticism
is not in any wise serious, as any
one who studies the subject will
know that a road cannot be paved
without detours. and that no road
can be paved except in the late
spring, summer or early fall"