Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1904-03-09
Benefits of the BrOwnlOw Good
Roads Bill
SWEET BRIAR BRANCH. March

L ~ W bb i'nlhh tthhNNn, '
EDITOR GAzETTE:-I inclose here
II in extracts from an address to tn
e National Grange on the Brownie,
n Road BLY, by Mr.. +. A. Derthicl
o and published in recent issue ofth
a, National Stockman and Farmer. II
: said, in part;
1.-THE Brownlow bill If it be enacted
. creates department at Washington
= with proper superintendent TO TAX
care OF the building Of the Sc roads
Twenty millions Of dollars are APP
propriated to be divided among thu
several States according to thei
! population, except that no State is tC
receive less than $250,000. Eacl
State, county or town receiving Fed
eral aid must add like amount tC
the sum received from the United
States government. Should any
State not accept the amount allotted
to it under this law within four years
oil SuCn al Z W W itoilOtt'N
among States which have taken the
entire original allotment
"The Republic Of France has built
and maintains $4,000 miles OF road
without cost to the farmers Italy has
5000 miles OF road under similar con
ditions. England and Germany lave
enjoyed perfect roads for 80 many
years that they are accepted as n
matter Of course.
I'm our own land the farmers
practically alone have borne the
burdens of road building and it has
been done in haphazard manner.
According to careful estimet ties
$l.25 will haul ton five miles on a
common road. while the same amount
will haul ton fifteen miles on well
made stone road. This is a conserva-
tive estimate more especially when
it is remembered that many sections
of our State are mud bound for
considerable periods.
"The farmers are loyal andpatriotic,
with unbounded pride in the develop
ment OF their country but when they
remember the millions of dollars con-
tributed by them for the improve
ment of water ways, other millions
to individuals with which to CON
stuct railroads and again for the
erection Of public buildings in the
large cities Of the land, would it be
strange if they now expect the bread
cast UPON the waters for these many
years to return in the improvement
Of the public highway open alike to
the rich and the poor, no matter
what his occupation may be? How
ever this may be, the farmer may be
expected to demand Federal aid in
his roads before he con-
sents to being taxed to the end that
millions may be given TO pri-
vate enterprise In the form OF a ship
Law
From this address and from other
sources we can reasonably expect
that this Brownlow road bill or some |
other bill having the same object in
view will be passed by the Congress
now in session, and if so how are we
TO be benefited by the same? In two
ways
LIST. b. our State apprOpriating
IN equal amount to our State
allotment which will likely be about
me million dollars and placing that
amount to the credit OF the several
OF the State and dividing
t according to population.
end. Should our State neglect to
.ct in this matter then our county
ould act alone and draw from this
und our fall part provided we put
p an equal amount. Our proper
tomato pant is likely to be about
8. 900.
hardly think our Legislature is s
kelly to do anything for us in this e
natter. If mistake not the whole :
mount in our State treasury has 7
cen appropriated and If our county Y
cts any help from this Brownlow r
Dad bill we will get it alone by
hat we do as county. See the =
reat Importance OF taking steps II
ow to secure to our roads this large
mount of money. If this question
deferred few months longer then
will be whole year before we can
* it up again, as our levy for taxes
made in June or July. We can look
one to our Board Of Supervisors for 4
Zip in this important matter. 4
Another very important matter in =
lis help we get from the general
,vernment is this; We get the help
experts in building roads from
nds appropriated by the general T.,
'vernnent.
Now, should fort une favor us and ]
get 50, 900 from Uncle Sam and our
unity puts up an equal amount
wing us so, 90 to be spent the first T.
ar on our roads, all under the 49,
rection of " man in the employ of
g general government and one
Outstanding fully the construction ID
roads, we would then be 4.
possession of facts which would
able us TO act injelligently and ~
thout loss i'm our further efforts to
ter our county roads. \, X. X, -
Raphine Items IL
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