The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1903-03-21
DEMAND GOOD ROADS.
People Of Arkanaas Favor National
and state Ala in Improving
Their Highways.

The State Good Roads convention
recently held at Little Rock, Arkansas,
was one of the most important ever
held in this country to consider any
industrial question. 1t was large in
numbers, enthusiastic in interest
and harmonious in action. The
legislature being in session at the
capital, adjourned omeetin the great
hall where the delegates and spec
tators assembled to the number of
1000. The great questions under
discussion were state aid and national
aid to road buildings. There was
almost a unanimous opinion in
favor Of both propositions and on
the second day a resolution was passed
by a unanimous rising vote Of the con-
vention instructing the legislature to
pass a law at once levying a tax Of two
mills on every dollar of taxable prop.
erty in the state to raise a fund to be
used by the state to aid its different
subdivisions in building roads, The
opinion also prevailed that the United
States government should become n
of the cooperating forces in this great
work, and should pay some share of the
cost required to improve certain lead.
ing highways up to a high standard of
excellence. In this connection the
Brownlow bill now pending in con,
gress, which provides for a system Of
cooperation between the United States
and the different states, or subdivisions
thereof, in road building, was under
consideration. Among the arguments
offered in favor of national aid are the
following:
The revenues of the United States
government, aggregating nearly five
hundred millions of dollars per year.,
are drawn as much from the agri-
cultural areas as from all other sources
combined, yet at the same time whenit
comes to the distribution of the fund
not more than 10 per cent. of it is put
out in the rural districts, whereas,
ninety per cent. is distributed in the
great cities for public buildings, battle
ships, munitions of war, harbor facili-
ties, etc. This discrimination has re-
suited very largely from a lack of at
JCAA anu COuSlNGl dllOus IL is DG-
lieVed that congress would make
appropriations for improving roads as
well as rivers if urged to do so by the
people of the rural districts. This
instance was cited as an illustration of
the wisdom of such a change!
The White river is now being i'm
proved by the United States govern
ment at a cost of two million dollars
which will result in a slight improve
ment in its navigation that will benefit
but a few carriers and a small number
of people, whereas a permanent and
well-improved highway built with that
large amount of money, either along
the bank of that same river, or in any
other portion of the state of Arkansas,
would contribute much more to cheap
ening transportation, would serve
many people, would increase the
value of land adjacent to it, and would
add very much more to the states
wealth.
1t was considered good policy by the
participants in the discussion that the
United States should be called upon
to contribute a share in this necessary
improvement of highways, This idea
was indorsed in a resolution passed
by the convention. Attention was
called to the fact that the government
has already appropriated a million
dollars for such a purpose to Porto
Rico and another million to the Philip
pines, and the secretary of war has
lately recommended to congress, with
the approval of the president, that
three millions of dollars should be
Immediately appropriated for the use
of the Philippine government to be
mainly expended in building highways
and other public improvements on the
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