The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-12-30
PUBLIC
ROADS
BUREAU
government viii Be Asked
to Aid States
IN the Building of Permanent
Highways

county Judge Scott, president Of
'ue oregon Good Roads Convention is
. receipt Of letter from Martin
lodge director Of the Public Roads In.
quirles Of the United States denart
ment of agriculture, with reference 70
Dill now before congress that nro.
poses an appropriation from the gov.
ernment to aid the states in making
needed improvements in the bpi,dine
ana repairing of roads and highways
Mr. Dodge was in charge Of the GOV.
ernment good roads train that recently
visited the Pacific coast, and is one of
the most earnest advocates of better
road building that there is in the conn.
Try The measure that is before con.
gress' and to which reference has
oeen made was introduced by Repre-.
sentative Brownlow. II is entitled a
Dill TO create in the department of
agriculture a bureau to be known as
the Bureau Of Public Roads and to
provide for a system Of national. state
and local cooperation in the perma
nent Improvement Of the public high
ways"
The bill proposes an appropriation
of S2O0OOOOO, and provides that this
amount Of money shall be apportioned
among the several states, with respect
to population This does not appear
to be the most equitable manner Of
distributing the fund. since for in
stance, the Western states, that are
most sparsely settled. require more
road work, at even greater expense
than It can be done in the Eastern
and more densely settled communi
ties. II Is suggested that a better plan
would he to apportion the money with
respect to the acreage. Under the pro.
posed plan Of apportIoning the funds
Oregons share would be about Sl12,.
OOO
Mr.. Dodge writes further that the
members Of congress are quite favor
ably disposed toward the measure.
The bill provides for the placing of
the proposed bureau under the man
agement and direction Of the secretary
of agriculture, the bureau TO consist
Of one director at the annual salary Of
S450O. and a number Of assistants at
salaries ranging from 1920 to $25O0 a
year It will cost $4,000 per annum
10 maintain the bureau, The purpose
for which II is proposed to establish
the bureau are TO bring about, so far
as may be. uniform system Of taxa
ton for road purposes and a uniform
method Of road construction. repair
and maintenance throughout the
States. and to cooperate with any
state or political subdivision thereof
n the actual construction Of perma'
tent highways"
The plan of operation for the bureau
S about as follows Whenever a sec
ion OF any state desires the building |
t some roads, the formal application |
! made through the secretary of agri' /
ulture. and then the bureau sends an I
nglneer TO investigate the need for
he road for which application has
cen made, estimate the probable cost
nd report 10 the department In
ase the application is fayorably re-
orted upon the local authorities ad-
ertise for bids for performing the
,ork. and II the offers come within
he estimated cost Of building the
ighway then the authorities, local,
re authorized to contract for the per
,rmance OF the work. One-half OF the
ost OF the undertaking 10 be paid by
,e government. and the rest can be
pproprlated by either the state the
1unty city or road district. This fea'
ire Of the case will require local leg
.latlon. that the plan may be uniform
,roughout the state. 1
County Judge Scott is a great enthu'
ast on the subject Of good roads. lie
particularly interested in the pend
70 bin in congress, which he thinks
m largely solve the question OF bet
.r roads In Judge SCOTS opinion the
-oper thing TO DO is 70 thoroughly or
,nlze the communities Of the state
NO good roads clubs, and in that way
emulate county and state organiza.
ops and a national association OF
nod road workers By thus creaIlns