The New York herald., 1922-10-24
Miller the Business Man.

Miller the Business Man.
Good business management deliv-
ers the goods in public work as in
private work and delivers the goods
without squandering money. That's
the test of good business management
not only to get things done but to
get them done at the right cost.
There is no better way to measure
the value of the business manage
ment the people of the State of New
York have under Governor MILLER
against what they had under Cover
nor SMITH than in the matter of
building, repairing and maintaining
roads. The two records are striking
examples of fair business manage.
ment on the part of Governor SMITH
and exceptional business management
on the part of Governor MILLER.
Governor SMITH did not do bad
job in providing for new State roads.
He let contracts for 800 miles of high
ways that had not been previously
contracted for. But in this matter Of
extending the highway system Cover
nor MILLER has done far better job.
He has let contracts for the construc-
tion of 1,o01 miles of highway.
Governor SMITH did not do badly
in the matter of maintenance and
general repairs of existing roads. He
took care Of 1850 miles OF highways.
But Governor MILLER did more: he
took care Of the maintenance and re-
pairs OF S,09S miles Of highways.
In the matter Of reconstructing and
resurfacing roads built in previous
administrations Governor SMITH
made contracts covering 275 miles.
But Governor MILLER's record in re-
spect of this kind Of work is 43O
miles.
Governor SMITH in 1920 laid 1853
miles of pavement. and In 1921 344
miles. In the first year OF his adj
ministration Governor MILLER, with
632 miles of highway completed, S27
miles of which we're concrete, laid
more miles than Governor SMITH laid
in his two years put together.
In two years Governor SMITH let
contracts for S22,926,000 for the COM
pletion Of contracts abandoned by
contractors during the war and for
the construction of $50 miles of new
highways. Governor MILLER has let
contracts for 1858, 900 for building
the before mentioned 1901 miles Of
new highways and 80 miles previously
contracted for but not built.
Governor SMITH did not make a
low record in the matter of keeping
up to date with concrete roads, as Al
per cent. Of his construction was OF
concrete. That was a creditable
showing, but of the sci miles now
under contract in the second year
of Governor MIILER's administration
81 per cent. Is concrete.
And while Governor MILLER has
doubled road construction in this
great program Of throwing a network
Of fine highways all over the State
for the benefit Of the farmers and
everybody else he has not turned the
taxpayers pockets inside out to do
it. On the contrary, new taxes for
the people Of New York to pay under
Governor SMITH were up $54, 900. 900.
But, with the vastly greater quantity
OF work Governor MILLER is doing on
the roads, on the canals, on the de-
velopment Of water power. the tax
bills of the people Of the State of New
York are down more than $4,000 900
from what they we're under Governor
SMITH.
II the taxpayers Of New York do
not appreciate this kind of service
they do not appreciate business abil-
ity as business institutions appre-
ciate it.