New Britain herald., 1927-07-02

branch or the state GoVerpmeut. few years ago efore the advent ol the auto obile this would have beer mildly interesting to Q number ol citizens wh,se chief diversion Wa. hitching up a horse and going for g ride on Sunday. But today it is ol vital interest to nearly every man woman and child in this common, wealth because there are few whc do not speed about in rubber cush. toned vehicles propelled by gasoline engines.
 It is a far cry from the roads ot yesterday to those of today. Ma. cadam is used only on side streets or on secondary highways. The modern citizens demands that his roads be paved with concrete 50 that he may glide with speed and in com. fort to his destination. The history of road construction is the history ot e0th century progress. Both are parallel It is no idle compliment for the Connecticut highway depart ment to say that the roads in this state compare favorably with those found anywhere and excel those built in many states. We are apt to fret because Co. missioner John A. Macdonald fails to construct over- night roads which we believe essen- tial to our peace of mind. But on this occasion. those things should be forgotten and the felicitations of everyone without an axe to grind should be extended to that gruff, blunt worker at the head of the de- partment who demands concrete and l traprock without cream for break !! fast, another dish of the same for ] lunch and a third dish of identical ingredients for dinner and who can- | not sleep O nights until he has a couple of muddy wheelbarrows, crowbars and cans of blasting powder between the nice cool sheets of his bed Commissioner Macdon- aid has been criticized for his lack of diplomacy in dealing with state officials and private citizens. He has been accused at tines of being dis courteous. Those charges may or may not be true. The state pays him to build good roads and he seems to be making success of that.
 The Connecticut highway system consists of nearly 2,000 miles of paved roadway. forming a network all over the commonwealth on which one may travel conveniently between important communities. The greater part of the system has been built within the past few years, al- though the department is nearly a third of century old and is the largest branch of the state govern ment. It handles millions of dollars of public funds annually and plans and executes all its own work from blasting away a mountain of rock to planting shrubs along the routes preferred by tourists. It Is to the credit of tha department that there | has been no reflection on the man. ner in which it has spent funds, and that's something to think about and be glad. The news article referred ! statement: "The work of highway construction. supplemented by the care of bridges and operation of fer ries, has required an aggregate ap- 1 propriation of $40,090, ,167.44 while the total expenditures of the depart ment during its history have been SS2, the balance coming from motor vehicle fees and fines, gasoline tax and refunds from towns under statutory provisions" Count that on the fingers of both hands.
 How many of you folks have ever attended the English Derby? One, two, three, four siX-well, that's splendid. Did you meet a man by the name of Harry Weevily while you were there? No? Oh, you must have met Harry. He wore blue suit and he smoked cigarettes constantly. Don't remember? Well. never mind, never mind.
 | The English Derby as you all know, is the racing classic of Eng land such as the Preakness and Ken lucky Derby are in>this country with the exception that the English Derby is held in England.
 The novice horseman will doubt l lessly want to make a try for win ring the Derby and this is easily done if instructions are carried out as printed. First one should procure a horse that is fast enough to win the Derby. Don't let the shysters l fool you with offers of horses which
 'are just as good" Insist on a horse that is fast enough to wip the Derby. i There used to be a perfectly swell little place on Sixth avenue that sold | them very cheaply and if one will | only watch the papers well-you know what will happen then-mercy yes.
 Now that one has the horse, one should go to England by any of the prescribed routes - an excursion train will save several pennies and one should rent a stable at Epson Downs. If every humorist who has labelled Epson Downs eith- CT Upsand Downs or Epson Salts were placed end to end they would reach quite a long ways, but don't let that deter you from your am- bition, namely, to win the English Derby.
 The great day will arrive-you will know it by keeping an eye on the papers and watching for the King and Queen. The King is easily distinguished by q beard and the I Queen wears hats-and how! Now that the King and Queen are seated in the Royal Box, go hunt up the /, man who has charge of the race. Ask him to let you enter your horse, which We will call Clara" just for 1 fun, and fill out the required slip allowing you to enter the race.
 Now the horses are at the post