ROADS: We have some rough roads in the area today, but we can’t imagine what our ancestors dealt with in 1919 when they proclaimed the roads were in bad shape.
“Unusual enterprise” was one of four sub-headlines on May 19, 1919, on a story that described how dedicated local people were to connecting Seaward avenue to New York state.
“Building of improved road in another state is without precedent but is regarded as best investment that could be made for Bradford by forward-looking and enterprising men who expect to put $100,000 into the plan,” read another part.
“Fifty-nine subscribers in Bradford pledge $59,000 toward slag highway to join N.Y. system,” was the main headline. “A project of greatest interest to locality. Means much to this city from every angle.”
The story began with a rather bold proclamation: “Absolutely the biggest project before Bradford residents today: biggest from the viewpoint of every interest, no matter how large, no matter how small, is the proposed slag highway from the terminus of the slag road on Seaward avenue extension to the juncture with the New York state improved highway at the river bridge near Carrollton.”
It was not a matter of opinion, the writer stated in the next paragraph, but rather a “cold blooded announcement of a fact which is patent to all who have applied the essential tests or considered the results when tried out by experts whose conclusions are available.
“In the matter of subscriptions the board of commerce committee which has formed heroic service up to the present, feels that but a limited number of persons may in the natural order of things be asked to contribute. These are the businessmen of the city and its vicinity; the owners of automobiles and the users of commercial trucks. These classes, the committee points out, should be educated to a proper realization of the fact in the opening paragraph and its personal value in saving of tires, gasoline and other costs of motor upkeep.”
The committee had determined $100,000 was necessary, and $59,000 had been secured. The remaining $41,000 was being sought from “those who have lost profits and temper by failure of transportation companies to deliver goods.”
