Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-06
TO GET BETTER ROADS
STATE CONVENTION
FAVoRs FEDERAL AID.
Enthusiastic Meeting Recently Held
In Little Rock in the Interest
Of Good Roads.

'"The state good roads convention recently
held at Little Rock, Ark, was one OF the
most important ever held in this country to
consider any Industrial question:" said Mr..
Martin Dodge, director OF public roads In
Quiries for the Department Of Agriculture.
cit was large in numbers enthusiastic In
interest and harmonious in action. The
great questions under discussion were state
aid and national aid to road building. There
was almost a unanimous opinion in favor Of
both propositions, and on the second day
resolution was passed by a unanimous ris-
ing vote to instruct the legislature to pass
a law at once levying a tax of two mills on
every dollar Of taxable property in the state
to raise fund to be used by the state to
aid it's different subdivisions in building
roads. The opinion also prevailed that the
United States government should become
one of the cooperating forces in this great
work, and should pay some share of the
cost required to improve certain leading
highways up to a high standard Of excel
lence. In this connection the Brownlow bill
now pending in Congress, which provides
for a system of cooperation in road build
ing between the United States and the diff
ferent states or subdivisions thereof, was
under consideration.
National Aid Favored.
"Among the arguments offered in favor
u dIu were ING lOllOWlHS.
The revenues Of the United States gov
eminent, aggregating nearly $500. 000. 600 per
year, are drawn as much from the agricul-
tural areas from all other sources COM
bined, yet at the same time when it comes
to the distribution Of the fund, not more
than 10 per cent of it is put out in the rural
districts, whereas 80 per cent Of 1t is dis
tributed in the great cities for public build
ings, battle ships. munitions Of war. harbor
facilities, etc. This discrimination has re-
suited very largely from lack Of attention
and consideration. It is believed that Con-
gress would make appropriations for i'm
proving 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 (Ark.) is now being i'm
proved by the United States government at
a cost Of $4,000, 900, which will result in
slight Improvement in it's navigation that
will benefit but few carriers and a small
number Of people, whereas permanent and
well-improved highway built with that
large amount of money, either along the
bank Of that same river, or in eny other
portion Of the state Of Arkansas, would
contribute much more to cheapening trans
portation, would serve many more 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 con-
tribute share in this necessary improve
ment of highways. This idea was Endorsed
in a resolution passed by the convention
Attention was called to the fact that the
government has already appropriated ST.
100000 for such purpose to Porto Rico
and another 100000 to the Philippines,
and the Secretary of War has lately rec
commended to Congress with the approval
Of the President that 100000 should be
Immediately appropriated for the use of the
pended in building highways and other pub
lie improvements on the islands.
As an Aid to Manufacture.
"Col. L. D. Kingsland, president Of the
st. Louis Manufacturers Association, ad-
vanced a new idea In his speech to the con-
vention to the effect that the agricultural
interests Of the country. which have so long
borne the burden Of tariff taxation in order
to establish and support the manufacture