OCR Text |
Show EXPENDITURE ON ROADS. We seo a statement that tho. State of New York has spont $22,000,000 on roads, and that of this $S,S00,000 was wasted or stolen, only $K?,200,000 of tho gross sum being efficiently and properly spent so that tho public got value received in the way of good roads for its money. A waste of $S,SOO,000 in a gross sum of .$22,000,000 is a loss to the public of forty per cent. Wo submit sub-mit that a loss like this is utterly indefensible, in-defensible, and a shameful arraignment of tho management of the business involved. in-volved. If the State of Now York cannot get better results than that iu the expenditure of its rond mone.y, Now York administration genorally being accorded ac-corded a high place in tho list, of efficiency effi-ciency as among the States, then sum-ly sum-ly other Stntes will have to keep a keen watch upon their road expenditures. Wo cite those figures now since the proposition to issuo $1,000,000 in bonds by Snlt Lake county for the making of good roads is placed prominently before tho public by tho Toport of tho subcommittee' sub-committee' from the Good Roads Com- mutoo or tho Commercial Ulub in this city, and the approval of that report by the board of governors of the club. Wo do not, iu presenting these figures, wish in any way to impugn the honesty, the efficiency, tho expert knowledge, much loss the good intentions inten-tions of those who would havo the handling of this money, and the building build-ing of the roads that the money that the proposed issue of $1,000,000 in bonds would accomplish. We simply present it as a part of tho. general business of good road making, and as a warning that it will bo necessary for those who handle this money to exercise exer-cise the utmost diligence and care so as in fnct to get good roads and to insure in-sure tho proper and rightful expenditure expendi-ture of tho money. There is no question at all about the necessity of good roads. Thero is not tho slightest doubt about the economic value of good roads, nor of tho profit that would come to tho peoplo of this county, tho producers and consumers alike, if wo had a proper system of good roads throughout. But it is noc-essnr' noc-essnr' to be cautious, to be prudent, taking evory forethought possiblo to avoid the waste or misapplication of money, and to insure tho best models of good road making that can bo had. Thero is no question but that there is sufficient ability in the United States to make good roads. Thero is no question ques-tion but that there is business efficiency effi-ciency enough to insure tho propor application ap-plication of money to this purpose. It is simpl' a question of proceeding honestly hon-estly and. of putting expert ability in charge of the work. And this is tho lesson which, we would draw for the benefit of Salt Lake county from tho forty per cent waste which is reported in the road expenditures of New York. |