666 ANNUAL RE'PORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



in Lackawaima, Uiiiitingdou, Cliuton, and Northampton eonnties, 

 while phms are prepared and specifications being draAvn for worli 

 in several other counties. Our ofiice woric is being retarded by the 

 very crude plans and surveys that have, in many instances, been sent 

 to the Department. With this showing, I am sure that you will 

 agree with me, that it is very unjust to condemn our road law as a 

 failure. With a little patience on the part of our citizens and the 

 hearty co-operation of those interested in good roads, the Depart- 

 ment will show that the laAv is not a failure, but an assured success. 



I believe in the law. I believe what has been done once can be 

 done again. I believe that if our sister states. New Jersey, Con- 

 necticut, Massachusetts and Nevv' York, have made a success of 

 similar laws, that with j^our hearty and earnest support, Pennsyl- 

 vania not onl}^ will make a success of our road law, but that in a 

 few years she will be in the first rank of road-making states, if she 

 is not the leader of them all. 



There has been criticism, and some of it justly. It is an easy mat- 

 ter to criticise, to find fault; but those who criticise and find fault 

 very seldom have anything better to olTer. We have the road law; 

 it may not be ideal, but it is the very best that we have had and it 

 will stand until a better one is passed. The sum appropriated under 

 the law for road construction is said by some critics to be insignifi- 

 cant — a mere drop in the bucket. This may be true when com- 

 pared with the whole amount of work to be done. It is a begin 

 ning. \Ye cannot do all at once. No city was built in a day, no 

 great work or undertaking completed without a beginning. The 

 work of building, of reconstructing the roads in this Commonwealth 

 is the greatest, the most stupendous undertaken by any Common 

 wealth. 



The success or failure of this great undertaking depends on you. 

 If you give it your hearty support and co-operate with the State 

 Highway Department, you can demonstrate to the next Legislature 

 the success of the law, and show by your action that you desire 

 good roads and that you appreciate what has been done. I believe 

 that beyond a question of doubt a larger appropriation will be 

 made, the State pay a larger percentage of the cost of reconstruc- 

 ing the township roads and that real estate will be relieved of a por- 

 tion of the burden of taxation that it is now bearing. If, however, 

 on the other hand, you show by antagonisms that you do not pro 

 pose to accept the benefits to be obtained under the provisions of 

 this law, then there will be no incentive for the Legislature to make 

 increased appropriations for your further benefit, but a possibility 

 of a repeal of the present law. The burden rests with you. 



Gentlemen, I depend on your aid in carrying out the provisions of 

 our present road law. I consider you as my assistants, and I feel 



