The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1904-05-20
SENATOR LATIMER SPEAKS.
The Eloquent Southerner Pleads the
Cause of Good Roads Before
a Boston Audience.

Senator Latlmer, OF SOutn carolina,
has come to the front as one of the lead
ing champions of road improvement. In
fact, he was elected to the senate main
ly on that issue. Last fall he intro
duced into the senate bill for national
aid similar to that which Congressman
Brownlow introduced into the house,
and he has defended it ably and eloquent
ly. In an address recently delivered at
the Beacon society dinner, at Boston,
he said:
roads of the country engaged the atten-
ton of our ablest statesmen from 1902
to 1882, and during that period about
$14,000,000 was appropriated by congress
for road purposes. All the great minds
of that period were one in conceding this
question to be of the highest Importance
in determining the happiness and pros
perity of the American people. 1t is to-
day, as it was then, question which
demands the earnest consideration OF
every American citizen. The mud tax,
levied on our people by the miserable
most onerous that we have to pay. 1t
will astonish you to know that it costs
the people of the United States every
year more to transport the surplus PROD
ucts of the farm and forest to the ship
ping point, than the total cost of trans
porting all the freight, passenger, mail
and express over al. the railroads OF the
United States. In 1896 the railroads re-
ceived from all sources a little over
100000 900. Every dollar OF this was
returned to the people in the employ
ment of labor, payment for material, in
taxes to the states, and in interest on
invested capital. The $1,000, GOO, 600 or
more spent in cost of transportation
over the dirt roads was total loss, not
one cent being returned to the people IN
taxes or as interest on invested capital.
And yet this is only portion OF the loss
caused by the poor condition of our
roads.
I'm this enlightened age no one ques-
tions the stupendous advantages which
would follow a complete system OF i'm
proved roads. The cost of the work
would be paid by the savings OF
one year. On the improved roads OF Eu-
rope the cost of transporting a ton mile
is from to II cents, while in the
United States the cost averages 20
cents A reduction of this cost by one
half would save to the American people
$500 900 900 per annum.
The practical question which con-
fronts us to-day is how is this condition
to be met and overcome? Upon whom
must the burden of this great undertak.
ing fall?
ut is evident that some change in ouI
method of road Improvement must be
adopted. The loca! community is not
able to construct roads unaided. Many
of the states are not able to do SO, and
even If they were, there is a feeling
which, in my opinion, is justly founded
that it would be unjust to require them
to bear the whole burden. The con-
sumers of raw material and food prod.
ucts throughout the United States are
equally interested with the producer il
lowering the cost of transportation, a;
they, in the end, have to pay this heavy
tax AS this burden cannot be equitably
distributed except by placing it on al
the people. and as the most remunera'
tive powers of raising revenue, orig
inally held by the states, are now II
the federal government, it is only by ap
preparation out of the federal treasur!
that the improvement of our roads cal
be accomplished with justice to all thu
people.
1.-The next question which presents 1t
self is as to the power of congress t.
make such an appropriation. / thinl
that the power exists by express gran
in the constitution. Basing my opinion
on the views of such eminent men al
Madison, Monroe, Gallatin, Webster
Calhoun, Clay and Adams, and, takin;
into consideration the legislative his
tory of the country, hold that the pow
er is clearly established. The powe
has been exercised whenever congress
thought it wise to do so, and the onl.
question which is really important i
whether or not this is proper subjec
for federal aid. All that is asked b.
the bill introduced by me is the appro
priation of fund for road purposes. TIL
states are to be furnished the right o
way, maintain the roads after they ar
built. and pay one-half the cost. Con
gress is not asked to invade the states
but simply to appropriate money as al
aid to an object for the general welfar
and happiness of all the people. Their
could be no better investment of tn
public funds than in road improvement
1t would enhance the value of farm
lands from 10 to so per cent. Anincreas
| in value of five dollars per acre woul'
add 5000, 900 900 to the wealth Of tn
country in this item alone. The conges
ton of business during the winte
months would disappear, and our pee
pie could go to the markets at all times
In fact, the material advantages whic
would follow are too numerous to men
| ton, and too great to estimate.
What will we do with the proposition
| Will we go on for the next 100 years a
we have during the past, or will W
arouse ourselves and make this Questio