WANT GOOD ROADS.

The New York Times
December 12, 1909

Connecticut Autoists Start Crusade for Better Highways.

Special to The New York Times.

NEW HAVEN, Conn., Dec. 11.—The demand of the automobilists of Connecticut for better roads came to a head to-day, when the State Automobile Association called a meeting of the Good Roads oCmmittee and one of the Board of Directors of the association.  Both sessions are scheduled to take place in this city Wednesday.  The State Automobile Association regards the condition of the roads in the State as a crying scandal.  They will set the Good Roads Committee and the Board of Directors of the association to work immediately to start a radical reform.

Whatever the discussion develops it is certain that the most searching reform into the present system of road construction in Connecticut will be set under way.  The meeting of the two boards is a special affair and no other business will be considered.  James H. MacDonald of this city, the State Road Commissioner, has been invited to address the New Haven Automobile Club in a smoker to be held Christmas Eve.

Mr. MacDonald has been hammered editorially by Connecticut newspapers till he collapsed physically the past week, and has remained indoors since.  He says that he has not decided to accept the invitation of the Automobile Club to speak.  Mr. MacDonald was appointed sole Commissioner by the Legislature with unlimited power to spend $4,500,000 for good roads.  One of the demands of the automobile clubs is that a scientific committee should be chosen to either assist or replace Mr. MacDonald.