MEETING TO URGE GOOD ROADS

The New York Times
February 4, 1900

Authorities on Highways Talk Before the Automobile Club.

The Automobile Club held a meeting at the Waldorf-Astoria last night for the purpose of urging upon the Legislature of the State the importance of appropriating a liberal amount under the provisions of the Higbee-Armstrong bill for improving the highways of the State.  Addresses were made by Gen. Roy Stone, E. G. Harrison of the office of Road Inquiry of the Department of Agriculture at Washington; Edward A. Bond, Chief Engineer of the State of New York; Henry L. Budd, Commissioner of Roads of New Jersey, and Thomas C. Mendenhall of the Massachusetts Highway Commission.

Since the good roads movement was begun the State and counties of New Jersey have spent $2,147,478 in improving their highways, and up to Dec. 16 last have completed 439 1/2 miles of road.  The State and counties of Massachusetts during the same period expended $2,637,300, and built more than 250 miles of road, which, according to Mr. Mendenhall, is as perfect as any of the remarkable highways of Europe.  The Higbee-Armstrong bill became a law in this State a little over two years ago, and there has been an annual appropriation of $50,000 as State aid for the improvement of highways.  New York thus far is far behind either Massachusetts or New Jersey, and efforts will be made at intervals to show that if the commerce is to be retained and merchandise brought satisfactorily to the railroads and canals upon which so much public money is being lavished the highways must be improved.