Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1903-04-03
GOOD ROADS CONVENTION.
National Aid Likely to be the Principal
Subject Of Discussion at Good Roads
Convention at St. Louis.

NV e'~Sy ~ w wv VssssSsp~s
Subject Of Discussion Al Good Roads
Convention at st. Louis.
Several weeks ago arrangements
were completed for assembling in st.
Louis on April q the greatest good
roads convention ever held. 1t is pro-
posed to make it not only national but
international in character. Judging
from the selection of delegates already
made in many states. 1t looks as II
the convention will be made up of rep
resentative men fromeall parts of the
country.
Undoubtedly the principal subject
for discussion will be that of National
aid as outlined in the bill introduced
in the last Congress by Representative
Brownlow. The friends of that meas
ure will go to the convention loaded
to the muzzle" with arguments in it's
defense. Among the arguments which
they offer with the greatest confidence,
the following may be noted:
First. The Government aided in the
building of many of the great rail-
roads, especially in the West by grants
of enormous areas of land, and other.
wise. Yet these roads are without ex-
ceptiOn owned by private individuals
and corporations, and operated solely
for private gain. How much more
necessary and proper then for the
Government to aid and encourage the
building of highways which are public
property for the use and benefit of the
people?
Second. The Government annually
appropriates many millions of dollars
for the improvement of rivers and har-
bors to facilitate commerce. But
these appropriations are of necessity
very unequally distributed, a few
states receiving the greater part, and
many others receiving none whatever
But the Improvement of the public high.
ways is justas important to commerce
and a National appropriation for that
purpose could be so distributed as tc
give each state its proper share.
;. Third. Money appropriated by Con
gress for other purposes only accom-
plishes results commensurate with the
amount spent; but money appropri
ated to aid and encourage road i'm
provement would accomplish vastly
more, because states and counties
could only secure the benefit of Thu
aid by contributing proportional sums
l A national appropriation for this pur
pose would serve as a universal stimu
lus to road improvement,
Fourth. The free delivery of mai
in the rural districts must always re
main limited to those communitie
which, by reason of their wealth or ia
vOrable natural conditions. are able t
have good roads. Other communitie
whose people are equally deserving
and whose contributions help to mair
d tain the whole postal system. are de
d prived of the blessings of free deli,
cry because of their poverty or be
. cause natural conditions make roa
is improvement difficult and expensiv,
st Here is a grave injustice which can b
remedied in one Of two ways: Eithe
COZ the whole scheme of rural fire
delivery must be abandoned becaus
e. it cannot be carried out with equ;
e.. justice to all the people, or ca tt
Of national government must lend
hand to help the less favored commu
Id tiles improve their roads, thus makir
le universal rural free delivery possibl
t: The fathers of the republic provide
for just such a contingency as tn
al when they empowered congress to G
is tablish post Offices and post roads,
" These and similar arguments W
I'd be put forward with a great deal
IN zeal and enthusiasm by the advocat
is Of national aid. AS several state co
a ventions have already endorsed tn
le scheme it will not be surprising
the st. Louis convention also a
proves it.