Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-15
ROADS IN THE WEST
ACTION TAKEN BY THE TRANS
MISSISSIPPI CONGRESS.
Extension Of Aid to the States by the
General Government-Views
of Director Dodge.

The Trans Mississippi commercial con-
gress. which held its fourteenth annual ses-
sion at Seattle, August ~. 20 and q. took
up the subject of good roads for considera-
ton for the first time. 1t was noticeable
fact that whatever difference of opinion
there might have been as to other questions
under consideration, there was absolute
unanimity prevailing as to the good roads
question. and the necessity for a general
cooperation between the United States and
the different states, or civil subdivisions
thereof, to hasten their permanent i'm
provement. The subject thoroughly
discussed by r. w. Richardson, ESQ., OF
Omaha. Neb.: James w. Abbott of Dem
yer, Col; Martin Dodge, director of the Of
flee of public road inquiries in this city, and
many delegates from the different states
and territories.
Director Dodge's Views.
Director Dodge has just returned to his
desk in Washington. In an interview Mr..
Dodge had the following to say regarding
the sentiment for better roads at the con-
gress:
The point clearly made that many
of the interior states and territories, es-
pecially in the mountain districts, have no
navigable rivers and harbors. and that,
therefore, they receive only remote and In
vast sums of money appropriated for the
improvement of rivers and harbors, and
! that 1t would be just and equitable If the
general government should lend it's assist
ance to the building and maintaining OF
certain public highways through such
states and territories. 1t was not contend
ed that the United States government
should bear the total cost of building such
roads. but that it should pay a contrib
utory share, not to exceed half, as pro-
vided for in the Brownlow bill. This was
thought to be more just account of the
fact that the burden of raising the enor-
nous revenues Of the United States govern
ment rests as much upon the people In the
rural states and districts upon all other
classes combined The revenues of the gen.
eral government approximate $40 per capita
per annum, whereas the revenue of the
state governments is only about 81
per capita. The revenues of the gem
eral government are SO large and are
raised In such a manner by indirect taxa
ton that there would be neither hardship
nor inequityif the United States should bear
a considerable portion of the costs of i'm
proving some of the principal highways in
the various states and territories. 1t would
seem that the best and most equitable
method would be to require the United
States to pay a portion of the cost, the
state portion. the county a portion and
the property owners in the vicinity of the
road portion
Action Of the Congress.
After full discussion of the question be-
fore the convention and the committee on
resolutions a resolution was unanimously
adopted. both In the committee and by the
convention. in which it was urgently recon-
mended to the several states that they
adopt system of highway improvement,
under competent engineering supervision,
embodying the general principles of the
modern plan of state aid now successfully
practiced in many Of the older states. The
convention also favored the still further
distribution of the burden by enlisting the
aid of the national government, and re-
quested the active support of the western
representatives in Congress for this policy.