The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-02-27
DEMAND GOOD A
People "s Arkansas Favor National
and Stnte Aid 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 to meet in the great
nall 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
ny a unanimous rising vote of the con-
vcntion ~instructing the legislature to
pass a law at once levying q 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 one
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 Il high standard of
excellence. In this connection the
Rrownlow bill now pending in con-
gress, which provides for a system Of
cooperation between the United States
and the different states, OF 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, a~ggregating 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 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 faclli-
ties, etc. This discrimination has re-
suited very largely from a lack of at
tention and consideration. 1t is be-
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 i'll Il slight improve
ment in it's navigation that will benefit
but a few carriers and a small number
Of people, whereas a permanent anc
we%li-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 serv,
. many more people, would increase tn
value of land adjacent to it, and woul,
add very much mor to the state
wealth.
1t was considered good policy by TIL
participants in the discussion that tn
E United States should be called upol
| to contribute a share in this necessar,
improvement of highways. This ide;
was indorsed in a resolution passe,
by the convention. Attention wa
called to the fact that the government
has already appropriated a million
dollars for such a purpose to Port
Rico and another million to the Philip
pines, and the secretary of war ha
lately recommended to congress, Wit:
, the approval of the president, tina
three millions of dollars should b
Immediately appropriated for the us
of the Philippine government to b
mainly expended in building highway
! and other public Improvements on tn
islands.
HANDY DUMPING SLED.