Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1902-12-26
More About Good Ro0dS
Farmers a, Well as Business Mer
interested in the Movement.
SENATOR EARLE WILL COME HERE.

Considerable interest has been
awakened over the proposed movement
for the building of better reads leading
into Alma, since the meeting held In w.
A. Bahlke's office last week. Many
farmers have sgnified their willingness
to assist in the undertaking, and. In
deed. much encouragement has been re-
ceived from all quarters The commit
tee appointed to solicit funds for build.
ing the road east Of the town, have been
unable 10 make any progress this week
owing to she fact that all are 80 ex'
tremely busy this being Christmas week.
but We expect q report from them for
he next issue Of the RECORD. Senator II.
8. Earle, OF Detroit, has b. en- correspond.
cd with and has signified his Willingness
to address q meeting in the opera house
in the interests Of good roads on Jan
uary 9th. which will undoubtedly be
arranged for. Further announcement
with reference to this meeting will be
made next week Senator Earle in q
private letter says: I'm eat your food,
drink your drink and sleep in your
Wright kind of bed aud won't pay a
cent and won't charge you cent for
my time" He ALTO sent rs q copy OF
the resolutions adopted by the Michigan
Highway Commission at the last meet
ing hela in Lansing, December 9th, 1902,
which we publish IN full AS follows:
Education on how to build and
maintain roads is needed. That this
can be best done by State Highway
Commission. Then one ought TO be
created and supported by the state.
That the next legislature should estab
lisn il.
That this commission should be com
PEELED by law to hold one Road B-ilder
and Members Institute In each county
every year, 10 teach road commissioners
and overseers how 10 build and rel air.
That they should be subject TO call
from any township in the state, 10 give
expert advice on how to build roads and
brlGges. and without charge.
That they should run. practically,
good roads Information bureau, fur
nlshlng Information about material,
transpoI tation of 1t, and everything
necessary for townships to know, and
free.
That townships have as good a claim
to home rule as cities.
Then townships should have tight
TO build x cd roads and raise money 10
pay for them. when their electors vote
10 do so. up 10 reasonable limit, with
out having TO ask the Legislature for the
privilege; however. this committee are
not advocating bonds.
That as all have right to, and do
use the public highways, all property
should pay something toward the build
ing and repairing inter-town permanent
ROADS.
That the rich town or city has got TO
help the poor town on inter. town roads
or there never will be any.
In Michigan at the present time . -
only Of the property pays any tax TO
LuIld or elair the highways, namely
farm properly.
That is as equitable for the village
city or corporation property to pay TO.
ward the roads that ali use, az 1t is for
the farm property 10 pay toward the
colleges, the asy lums and the reforma.
tones that only few use and the farm.
or the least OF all.
But, nothing can be done toward state
aid, until the constitution is changed.
1t ought to be changed at once.
The Legislature should submit the
changing OF it TO the electors at their
first opportunity.
The section that forbids any state aid
for highways Is given below in small
type, and the words that ought to be in
serted are given between the brackets
In capitals.
Sec. Of Art Ia 1.-The state shall
not be party to or interested in any
work or internal improvement. nor en-.
gagged In carrying on any such work,
except in THE IMPROVEMENT OF
PUBLIC HIGHWAYS AND in the
expenditure Of grants to the state, of
land or other property. Provided, how
ever. that the Legislature of the state,
by appropriate legislation may authorize
the city Of Grand Rapids TO issue bonds
for the improvement Of the navigation
OF Grand RIVER"
With this change, an appropriation
could be made aud should be made OIL
the Vermont plan.
The Vermont plan, is, to divide the
appropriation by the number of miles 0:
roads and streets in the state which will
give the allotment that can be made per
mile.
Then this allotment is given to the
locality which raises like sum or more
and builds piece Of permanent road
according to the required standard OF
tha atata rom mieaioner