New York's Poor Roads

That New York is u ::ílk1 the times in the matter of good roads is recognized by all v. ho haw given the subject any thought. Tï New York Tribune, which has long oeen a warm advocate of highwny iiuprovcment, offers suggestions which are worthy of the highest consideration. It says: First class roads, if not built by the state, can be afforded only in regions inhabited by persons of more wealth than the average farmer. Neax the large cities are great areas tenanted by those who have business in the city, but prefer to live in the Here the property values are much higher than in regions exclusively devoted to farming interests, and, the taxes being proportionately higher, it is possible to spend more money on the roads. Under our present law the people of the state work out their road taxes without intelligent supervisión, and often not only is the labor wasted, but the roads are spoilcd. The fanlts of the roads which could be remedied without extra expense in labor are mainly these: First. - The roads are too narrow and too high in the center. Op account of the narrowness the wheels all run in the same track, and the extreme curvature of the rondbed compels the wheels to run on the edgo instead of the surface of the tires, the combination of the two faults causing the forniation of deep ruts. Second. - Loose stones are allowed to remain in the roads, and the work is not directed toward keeping, the roads smooth. The legislation hitherto proposed has only aimed at a few state roads. This is insufficient. Trained supervisión is needed over all roads. The important reasons for road improvement throughout the state are three - first, the desirability of reducing the cost of hauling; second, the importance of making most of the roads fit for pleasure driving, thereby attracting to the rural distriets in summer thousands of people who créate a local market forvarious farm producís; third, the economie principie of preventing the great waste of labor which is now fruitlessly expended in making bad roads.