The Washington times., 1904-05-13

: only undertaken on receipt of a request
! from some educational institution, or
some voluntary organization OF enter
| prising citizens, or the public officials
of some local community which IS VIII
ing TO bear the expense of furnishing
the materials and labor needed.
Object lesson work Of this kind has
been done in twenty States, and so
great has been the demand for such
work that not nearly all the requests
can be complied with.
One interesting feature of this educa-
tlonal work is the holding OF conven-
tons in connection with the building Of
object lesson roads. While the work
is in progress, "a convention is called
and the people come from far and near
to witness the work OF road building
and listen to instructive addresses. Such
a convention seldom adjourns without
forming permanent organization
/ Mainly in this way good roads asSocia-
| tons have been formed in all sections,
and by them the work of education and
agitation has been carried on.
National Aid Plan Launched.
The most significant feature of the
st. Louis meeting was the launching
OF tho national aid plan Col. w. p.
B-cwnlow, OF Tennessee. had given this
plan prominence before the country b.
introducing a bill IN the Fifty-seventh
Congress providing that the Govern
ment should cooperate with the States
in the Improvement of the roads. and
pay one-half of the expense.
From the first this proposition at
tracted much favorable attention es-
pecially among the rural population. But
the idea was fairly launched on it's ma
tional career by the convention at St.
Louis. 1t was, in fact, the principal
theme OF discussion, and the sentiment
for IL was well-nigh unanimous
The St Louis convention created a
committee representing all sections of
the country to go to Washington. lay
its demands before Congress. and argue
IN favor OF the nations help in the work
OF Improving the roads. Last January
the Committees on Agriculture in both
the Senate and House granted public
hearings 20 this committee. and the
Senate has since issued a report of the
hearing for distribution to the people.
On the whole IL must be said that the
advocates of national aid made out a
strong case. and the report contains a
large amount of valuable information
The Senate committee has since de-
cldtd by vote of six 10 one TO mako
a favorable report on the Latimer bill
VIII go before the Senate for action at
the next session
State Aid.
No history of this movement would be
complete without some reference to the
f1NoLt d4A pan. IN ldCI the greatest
actual accomplishment of the movement
is that it has secured the adoption Of
this plan in ten States. All the North
eastern States from Maine to Pennsyl-
vaEia and Maryland, have adopted State
aid, and the results secured are so sat
isfactory that the popularity of the
plan increases every year.
In New Jersey the State pays one
third Of the cost of road Improvement
and the Legislature now appropriates
$4,000 annually. In Connecticut the
State pays two-thirds OF the expense
and the annual appropriations are S225. =
00o Massachusetts spends nearly $500. 600
year. the State paying three-fourths
OF the cost. In New York the State
pays one-haf the cost and the
last Legislature made an appropriation
OF 100000 for this purpose. Pennsyl-
yania' s last Legislature appropriated
S6,5Oo,0O0 as State fund. TO be expended
during SIX years. the State paying two
thirds Of the cost of the roads built