Good Roads. Ill 



Now I would not have you think that I call your attention to 

 these facts to condemn the canal system of our State, neither 

 would I have you think that I would advocate the erection of 

 our public buildings upon the summit of some barren hill top 

 away from the centers of population, but simply to illustrate the 

 fact that in soliciting help from cities and villages to rebuild 

 and improve country roads, we are but asking for the return of 

 our own. We are not begging, for farmers, above all classes, dis- 

 like to beg or be accused of begging. 



We have a law called the " Higby-Armstrong Good Roads 

 Law " which provides the the State shall pay one-half the cost of 

 building permanent roads constructed under State supervision. 

 Also the *' Fuller Good Roads Law." providingthatany town may 

 draw from the State treasury one-fourth as much money as it. will 

 levy and collect by direct tax for road improvement. These laws 

 were passed by a Legislature made up, by a very large majority 

 of representatives from cities and villages, which can receive 

 no direct benefit from the operation of these laws. That alone is 

 strong evidence that the cities sympathize with us in our effort to 

 get good roads, and are willing to extend a helping hand. As a 

 further evidence, you are of course, aware that the State En- 

 gineer and Surveyor during the last sessions of the boards of 

 supervisors throughout the State, invited each board to send 

 three delegates to a good-roads convention, held at Albany, Feb- 

 ruary 8 and 9, 1900. I had the honor and pleasure of being one 

 of the delegates from this county, and I was surprised to see that 

 the delegates in that convention who lived in cities were the most 

 enthusiastic for improvement of country roads, one gentleman 

 even going so far as to favor the bonding of the State for the 

 enormous sum of $12,000,000 for the improvement of country 

 roads. When a resolution came up petitioning the Legislature 

 for an appropriation of |1, 000,000, for the carrying out of the pro- 

 visions of the " Higby-Armstrong " Law there was not a dissent- 

 ing voice. All this evidence shows that the cities will aid us if we 

 but ask and give a guarantee that the money appropriated will be 

 faithfully and profitably expended. By a guarantee I dio not mean 



