Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-06

ing industries Of this country, and eSpe-
cially the infant industries, some of which
are now entitled to sort Of reciprocal
benefit In the way OF aid in building up and
permanently improving the rural roads of
the country. The necessary burden of cost
to do this is too heavy to rest entirely upon
the shoulders Of those who own the land
or live in the rural districts He said:
"It was the early and continued policy of
the United States to foster and encourage
den upon agriculture and commerce, until
It should have its equal sh4fe in the prog
ress OF the country and fecipfocate the ben
efits received. We aret nosv ready to CO.
operate with the agricIturai. commercial.
transportation and socfA interests of the
country in obtaining good roads, SO essen
tial to its continued prosperity. Modern
thought and experiences has determined that
the only successful method <of securing a
system of improved public roads Is by ma
tional, state, county, MD mdnicipal coop
Grafton In eQualiztnE the burden of their
cost and maintenance. 1t is unjust and in
equitable to lay the burden of cost of i'm
proved highways upon the Agricultural dis
tricts. The public road is the common N
property Of all. and the cost should be
shared by all. The Constitution empowers
the general government to construct mill
tary and post roads. The rapid mobiliza-
ton of her troops by sure and natural
means, the economic and educational inter-
ests so conducive to good government, de-
mands that the general government give
substantial aid to common road improve
ment. In this connection I most respect
fully commend this feature of the Brown
low bill now pending in Congress. It pro-
vides for government aid in road making
and carries an appropriation Of twenty
million dollars, to be equally distributed
among the several states, cooperating with
the United States and contributing an equal
proportion Of the burden Of expenses.
Secretary Wilson's Views.
1.-THE convention received a letter from
Secretary Wilson of the Department of
Agriculture in which he regretted his in
ability to attend the convention and said:
1.-The principal obstacle to road improve
ment is the burden Of taxation that it i'm
poses. But in considering this question,
the taxpayer should remember that bad
roads impose an enormous burden, a sort
Of perpetual tax, from which there is no
escape except through the permanent i'm
provement Of the highways. While the bur-
den Of taxation may appear heavy, the
money spent in improving the highways
should be looked upon as an investment,
the returns from which will increase the
prosperity of the community far more than
1t is depleted by the necessary taxation.
'"Then, besides the material advantages
there are comforts and pleasures, moral
and social benefits, resulting from good
roads, which are Of incalcuiable value to
duy COIuluulty. mere SOOu TOdOS nave
once been established and their benefits en-
joyed the people are never willing to get
along without them.
THE office of public road inquiries Of this
department Is doing much valuable work in
the way Of popular education along this
line, and while Congress has shown its in
terest in and appreciation Of the work by
increasing the appropriations for this pur-
pose, yet such appropriations are still far
too meager to meet the popular demand for
educational and object-lesson work"