The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1903-11-06

THE BILL.
ed, Hut n Potent Incentive to
Local Action.

One objection that has been urged
against the appropriation OF money by
the government to aid in road-building
is that the members of congress would
engage in such turmoil and unseemly
strifes as arc COW Witnessed In securing
appropriations for rivers and harbors.
This could not be the case under the
Brownlow bill. for II provides that nc
state shall receive In aid OF road con.
struction ont Of any money appropri
ated for that purpose a greater proper
ton of the total amount appropriated
than Its population bears to the total
population OF the United States. To II.
lustrate: II $50, 600. 900 should be appro-
proprlatod. Massachusetts, would receive
approximately. 1895, 900: Alabama. si97.-
900; Tennessee. $4,000: Michigan,
1894. 900. and Maryland. s3it 900.
However much work may be done by
either OF these states. II could not re-
cclye moro than Ii proportion Of the
AMOUNT appropriated. Nor could any
community In the several states com.
plain Of another for trying 20 secure the
premium offered by the government In
taking prompt and effective action In
raising local funds TO meet the require
ments Of the government. II would be
n contest. not between states. but be.
tween different counties Of the same
state. or between different subdivisions
OF townships. but the bill makes Il i'm.
possible that there could be contests be.
tween the states themselves.
This bill Is well guarded. also as te
the expenditure Of the money approprl-
atcd by the government. Application
must first he made by the officers having
Jurisdiction Of the public roads In any
state or county or district 10 the direc.
tor OF the bureau OF public roads for co.
operation In the construction OF n pub
lie highway. After the application Il
madc with the required resolution the
director OF the bureau of public roads
must have the route Investigated TO de.
tcrmln- whether such a proposed road
would be Of sufficient importance &c
receive national aid. II II should he ap.
proved by tho director upon lnyostiga.
ton then maps are to be prepared. plans
and specifications made. the width OF
the road determined. together with an
estimate 81 It's cost.
a second application, with resolution
Ia then made by the local authorities and
filed with the director, In which assur.
nnco Is given that such road or u section
thereof shall be constructed according
10 the provisions Of the net. The d.
rector then advcrtlses for bids for tho
construction OF the road. and the con.
tract In awarded to the lowest rcspon-
sible bidder. or II may he awarded TO the
state or county or subdivision. Tho d.
rector may then issue his warrant on
the treasurer OF the United States. but
his warrant shall not be In excess OF 50
per cent. Of the work performed. and In
all cases the government shall hold back
20 per cent. until the entire work has
been finished.
To anyone who will study closely the
provisions Of the Brownlow bill II will
be apparent that the interests Of IN,
government have been well protected IN
every particular. The value Of the bill
Ia the bentfccnt influence II Will esert
upon local action. Experience hai
shown that something IL necessary Il
stimulate local effort In tho matter o.
road building. The history OF the con
struction OF roads In all European coun.
tries shows that no good permanent fret
roads have ever been built by local as
essmcnt or taxation.