Town Highway Work

New York, 1895

The Highway Commissioners are making commendable efforts to improve the roadways and will presently give Hillside avenue (eastward) the attention it deserves. This is our most important thoroughfare for pleasure driving and it cannot be too well kept, but the commissioners have not the funds in hand to reform the whole road, only $1,000 being available, and the commissioners would be justified in getting a loan for the purpose of doing a complete job.

Commissioner Baker has a plan for maintaining the roads which seems feasible and should be given a trial. The idea is to block certain highways and let the work of caring for them to an individual under contract. In this way the necessary number of men can be kept constantly at work upon a limited area of roadway and breaks repaired as soon as made. It does not seem that road work would cost any more than it is costing now, and the results must be better. The new way should be given a trial.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, May 10, 1895, p. 4.