The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1903-04-02
DEMAND GOOD ROADS.
sople of Arkansas Favor NatiOrnl
and State Aid In Improving
Their Highways.

The State Good Roads convention
eceutly held AT Little Rock, Arkansas,
vas one of the most important ever
leld in this country 10 consider any
Industrial question. 1t was large in
numbers, enthusiastic in interest
and harmonious in action. The
legislature being in session at the
,apital, adjourned to meet IL the great
lall where the delegates and spec
;ators assembled to the number of
1000. The great questions under
discussion were state aid and national
aid to road buildings. There was
almost unanimous opinion in
favor of both propositions and on
the second day resolution was passed
5y unanimous rising vote of the con-
rention instructing the legislature to
pass Il law at once levying a tax Of two
mills on every dollar Of taxable prop
erty in the state to raise 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
Brownlow bill now pending in con-
gress, which provides for system Of
cooperation between the United States
and the different states, or 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, aggregating 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 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,
ninety per cent. is distributed in the
great cities for public buildings, battle
ships. munitions Of war. harbor facili-
ties, etc. This discrimination has re-
suited very largely from Il 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 change:
The White river is now being i'm
proved by the United States govern
ment at cost of two million dollars
which will result in a slight improve
ment in its navigation that will benefit
but few carriers and small number
of people, whereas a permanent and
well-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 I. amsportation, would serve
" -. ..gs -s.su .;S,Nclt 10 It, and wouit
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 contribute a share in this necessary
Improvement of highways. This idea
was indorsed in resolution passed
by the conventi9n. AttSption was
called to the fact tkst theGovernment
has alrEdy appropriated "a million
dollars bT such a purpose Il Porto
Rico and Aother million toA Ahd Philip
pines, and THE lses sretary Of war has
lately recommended to congre3s IS, with
the approval of tile, spresdeIt, that
three millions Of dollars sh1uld' be
Immediately appropriated Tor the use
of the Philippine government to bs
mainly expended in building highways
and other public improvements on the
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