New-York tribune., 1898-12-27
GOOD ROADS CONGRESS.
WORK OF THE L. A. w. INDORsED 81
FARMERS.
NATIONAL GATHERING DECLARES FOR Srh''
AID AND COMMENDs THE EFFoRTs

NATIONAL GATHERING DECLARES FOR STATE
AID AND CoMMENDs THE EFFoRrs
OF THE LEAGUE
The Farmers National Congress, which has Just
closed its annual session at Fort Worth. Tex.
hns adopted resolutions strongly indorsins the sys-
tenn OF State AID to road building. and commenting
the efforts OF tho League OF American Wheeimeh
for It's general Introduction.
The adoption OF these resolutions marks SIX
nal success for the Highway Improvement Com
mit,ee OF the League OF American Wheemen u
means that the farmers. who have 80 long looked
with doubts and misgivings upon the good roans
work OF tho League OF American Wheelmen are
beginning 10 understand that this work Is In their
own interest. and that. by working In harmony
with the League they bring about the con-
struc;ion OF durable highways without being
obliged TO bear all the expense. they have
so long supposed they would have TO do. The
Higbie- Armstrong law. by which State aid has
been introduced In New-York. provides for
division Of the cost OF road construction between
the State the county and the local township
Many OF the town. availing themselves Of fs ad-
vantages will amount OF money from
outside sources equal to four FIVE times that
which they raise themselves. most Of these funds
coming from the cities where the tax levied 10
raise II is only single cent on the thousand dol
lars OF the assessed valuation.
was organized. In 1880. It has been working for
better roads but never have It's efforts been in
dorsed or commended in terms by farmer organ
ization. The Farmers National Congress consists
Of about four hundred and Fifty delegates. repre-
senting neary every State. II is the strongest ag
ricutural body In the United States. a thoroughly
representative body of wlde-awake. up-to-date.
although conservative farmers. and was declared
by William IL Hatch. for many years Chairman
Of the House Committee on Agriculture. TO have
great influence with Congress. Its Endorsement
OF State aid 10 roads. and the League work will
have much weight with the Legislatures. and with
farmers generally. II marks the turning point In
the good roads work Of the League. and opens the
way for united action between its members and
the farmers Of the United States The book
which the League Is now circulating. entitled,
Must the Farmer Pay for Good Roads" and
expounding the State aid system Will do much to
help this work
The adoption OF these resolutions by the Farm
ers' National Congress is the result OF the EFFORTS
OF Otto Dorner. Chairman Of the Highway I'm
Wheelmen. He has attended the sessions OF the
Congress for three consecutive years. In Novem-
iss at at ST. t. PAUL. NJ Dorner ,,q addressed the Con-
sress upon State Ala TO Roads and the work 90 O.,
many friends for the League. He attended the
Congress at Fort Worth as the delegate from Inc
from Wisconsin. selected him 10 represent that
State on the Committee on Resolutions THIS com, IN
% to 2 The resolutions in fun are follows:
Resolved. That the bes, interests OF American
agriculture demand the construction OF hrst-class
roads connecting farms with market towns
That the cost OF their construction is too con
sidera Die to be borne by farm property alone;
That. as The entire population is interested in IN
and benefited. directly and indirectly, by good
reads all property ought to contribute TO the cost
Of their construction. through the medium OF
State tax. -, 4.
That we indorse the system OF state aid 10
roads because II appears TO solve the good roads
problem in the farmers interest II largely de-
creases the OF road construction 10 local com
n,unities provides the means by which the large
city taxpayers and corporations owning valuable
franchises from the State are made 10 snare IN ~
the expense and properly leaves il optional with
farming districts 10 avail themselves OF It's pro-
visions or not. as they may choose; $500,
That we believe the state aid system suitable
to most States In the Union. and commend nc
efforts Of the National Road Parliament. the
League of American Wheelmen and the Govern
ment Office OF Road Inquiry 10 make TINS Ns,eIi
OF road construction generally known ana unuet-
stood and 70 bring about It's general adoption