The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1903-04-09

National Aid Likely to be the
Principal Subject ofDis-
cusSiou.

Several weeks age arrangements we're
completed for assembling in ST. Louis on
April ~ the greatest gooa roads eonven-
iion ever held. Il is proposed to make IL
not only national but international In
character. Judging from the selection Of
delegates already made in manr States.
Il looks as Il the convention will be made
up Of representative men from all parts Of
the country.
Undoubtedly the principal subject for
discussion will be that Of National aid as
outlined in the hill introduced in the last
Congress by Representative Brownlow.
The friends Of that measure will 90 TO the
convention "loAded 10 the muzrle" with
arguments in its defense. Among the
Arguments which they offer vith the great.
est confidence, the follo~ing may be not
cd
First. The government aided in tho
building Of many Of the great railroads.
especially IN the West by grants Of enor-
nous areas Of land. and otherwise. Yet
these roads are Without exception osned
by private individuals aud corporations
and operated solely for private gain.
he~ much more necessary and proper
then for the Government 20 aid and
encourage the building Of Highways which
are public property for the use and bcue-
ne Of the pcoplcf
Second. The Government aupu.llv
anpropriaies many millions ct dollars for
the Improvement OF rivers and harbors
TO iaeiitate commerce. But these an-
propriations are Of necessity very uuc-
qualify distributed, fer States receiving
{ q To- ..~a
ins none whatever But the improvement
Of the public highways il Just ss impor-
iant 70 commerce, and National appro-
prsuon for that purpose could be SO dis.
tr'hutcd as 20 give each State its proper
share.
Third. Money appropriated by Con-
grcss Tor other purposes only accom- nlish-
81 results commemorate with the amount
spent but money appropriated 10 aid aud
encourage road Improvement would &C.
complish vastly more. because States and
counties could only secure the hcucG; of
this aid by contributing proportional
sums National appropriation for this
purpose would serve AZ universal slim
uius 90 road Improvement.
Fourth. The free delivery Of mail i,
rural Districts must alvays remain limited
20 ihosc communities which. hv reason of
iheit wealth 90 favorable natural coudi-
lions, are able 90 have good roads other
communities whose people are equally
deserving, and whose contributions hello
30 maintain The whole postal sv-tcm. are
deprived oi The blessings OF free delivery
because of their poverty or because nat
ural conditions make road Improvement
difficult nni expensive Here Is grave
Injustice which can hc remcdicd BOO one OF
i"o ~ays Either CO. thc whole scheme |
90 rural free delivery must ho abandoned |
"''hnse % cannot Doe carried out with
equal iestice GO all the people. or l2l the I
Natignal Government must lend "a hand |
io heIp tho Jess favored communities inn |
prove their roads thus making universal /
uiaI Tree delivery possible. The father. |
cog the Republic provided tor Just such a /
gontrcnry MS this when they empowered 1
Congress 90 establish post-omco. and |
Qo.t-roads
lneso aud similar arguments will be /
put forward With great deal of zeal and /
nihu-iasm ny thc advocates of National /
aid A. several State conventions have /
already endorsed this scheme. it will MOI
'c surprising 10 The Sc Lous convention
aI-o approves DO.