Holbrook argus., 1903-01-31
UNCLE SAM TO THE RESCUE
MERITS OF THE BROWNLOW GOOD
 ROADS BILL DISCUSSED
The Establishment of Public Highways Will Greatly Facilitate the Rural Free Delivery System.

Government has taken no substantial
 part in building or maintaining pub
 lie highways in this country, for the
 last two generations, is accepted by
 many people as final proof that the
 general Government is forbidden,
 either by Constitutional limitations or
 by sound public policy, from engaging
 in any such internal improvement. On
 the other hand it should be noted
 that no system of public highways
 was ever built up or maintained in
 any country without the substantial
 aid of the general Government of that
 country. The almost universal lack
 of improvement in regard to our pub
 lie road system is directly referable
 to the fact that there has been no we'll
 established system or policy pertain
 ing to the question. Those who have done most to agitate for permanent
 improvements have found that the farmers of the country have almost
 invariably been opposed to any gen.
 eral plan heretofore suggested for the building up of permanent and durable roads; although it is generally conced- ed that the farmers would be benefited as much, if not more, than any other class of people by such roads. The real reason for the farmers objection
 is found in the fact that, according to the ordinary scheme of improvement, he would be called upon to pay the entire burden of cost which he intu- lively feels to be greater than he ought to bear, if not greater than he is able to bear. Considering this long continued opposition by the people in the rural districts and the lack of policy OH the part Of the general Gov ernment, and especially considering that road buildinp is undoubtedly a public duty which rests upon the Gov ernment in some form it seems likely that the farmers are entitled to some assistance in bearing the necessary burden of cost to improve the pnblic highways, and that the United States Government should step forward with | some definite policy and assume some share of the burden and responsibility which is necessary to produce credit able system of public highways; and ul, inh cta ta1 oh effected in any country at any time without he substantial aid and en- of the general Govern snent of the country.
 The Brownlow bill H. R. No. 15369 seeks to establish such policy to be followed by the United States. It IS a policy of cooperation and seeks to bring in the general Government as cooperating factor to work in conntc- tion with any State or poliiical sub division thereof, so that the United States should furnish one.half the cos, of improvement and the State or political subdivision thereof, co-operat- ing, should furnish the other half. Sections 5, 6, and 7 are quoted from the bill as follows
 "Sec. 5. That any State or pcliti- cal subdivision thereof. through it's proper officers having Jurisdiction of the public roads, may apply to the Director of said Bureau for cooperation in the actual construction of per manent improvement of any public highway within the said State in the following manner: Every application for the cooperation herein provided tor shall be accompanied by properly certified resolution stating that the public interest demands the improve ment of the highway described therein,