Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-02-25
GOVERN TENT AID FOR GOOD
RH.DS

1nasmuch as two candidates for the
eovernorship of Vermont have announced
good roads TO be among the Issues they
would make conspicuous In the coming
campaign, it is timely as well as pertinent
Tor the people of Vermont to inquire
whether it is for their interest to continue
the system OF permanent highway CON
suuction which has been begun SO aus
piciously in different parts of the state
at their own expense. or whether their
Int orests' would be promoted, all things
considered by the passage Of the bill now
pending in Congress providing for national
ali for good roads in the respective
states.
At first sight, the arguments in relation
to our states acceptance of this PROPOSE
ton to match whatever sum Uncle Sam
might appropriate for permanent high
way construction with an cquai sum,
would seem to he Ike the traditional jug
handle, all on ono side. study of the
provisions Of the Brownlow bill and Of
our comparative interests may disclose
conflicting considerations.
The Brownlow measure contemplates the
establishment in the department of agri-
culture of Il bureau to be known as the
bureau Of public highways and the pro-
vision of national aid in the improvement
Of the public roads. The bureau is to in
cludc three commissioners of highways
to be chosen by the President by and
with the advice ANA consent of the Sen
ut,
troll Of the executive branch Of the gov
ernmcnt, who shall be chairman; one
IRON the largest minority political party.
and one from the engineer corps of the
United States army, on the active or re-
tired list.
one of the important features OF the
measure is the provision that no State
or Territory shall receive the benefits OF
the act in question until it shall have
established to the satisfaction of the M
tional commissioners that the highway
sought to be improved or constructed is
of sufficient public Importance to come
within the purview Of the act, taking into
account the use. location and value Of
such highway for purposes of common
traffic and for the delivery of the United
States mail, until the national commits
sioncrs are satisfied that the right of way
has been secured; until the national COM
missioncrs are satisfied that the highway
or cection thereof when constructed or
improved, will be maintained and kept in
rnyair without recourse upon the United
states: and not until the State or Ter
ritory has provided for the payment of
its portion of the total cost of the i'm
provemont or construction in question. 1t
is also provided that the State or Ter
ritory must pay nc-half OF the cost OF
such highway construction or improve
mcnt, and that the United States will not
pay its share except as the work pro-
crosses. Another provision is that any OF
the appropriation made that Is not ex-
pended in any year will become valable
the succeeding year; but no State shall
receive in any one year larger pr0por-
ton of the sum appropriated than its
population bears to the total population
of the United States
In other words, the authorities OF Yer
mont must select highways for improve.
ment which are trunk lines or mail routes
or otherwise OF sufficient Importance to
justify Improvement at government OK
pense. and the people Of the State must
pay taxes either direct or otherwise for
one half of the expense of Improvement
of these particular highways Moreover
the general government will pay only
for work actually accomplished, and then
only provided the State has made pro-
VI on for the payment Of its half Of the
% st; and the repair of such roads must
h. provided for permanently outside OF
federal appropriation.
While Vermont has made fairly good
beginning in the matter of good roads
as Il result Of century and moro of work
on highways. it Is IA significant fact that
in the South and many portions of the
West, there are few highways worthy