Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1904-01-29
THE ROAD PROBLEM
SHOULD UNCLE SAM ASSIST IN HIGH
WAY BUlLDlNGi

Government Aid.
In view Of the large proportions re-
eently assumed by the movement for
federal aid In road building a number
Of prominent men In different sections
have been asked to briefly state their
views on the question. From these
statements IL will be seen that IL Is de-
cided by the prevailing opinion it is
time for Uncle Sam to take hand in
The warfare against mud.
President William II. Moore OF the
National Good Roads association.
speaking from the standpoint of mod
crate advocate OF national aid, says:
Unless the people in the different states
! take hold of the road Improvement ques-
hon vigorously and raise local funds with
which TO start the work they cannot ex-
pect the federal government TO come and
dump a lot Of money into their Golfers.
| But II the people show a disposition to
| help themselves and to secure proper
state legislation 1 believe the federal gov
eminent will come to their aid.
Senator Latimer of South Carolina,
who is n good deal of an enthusiast on
this question, says:
| / will tell you why we have not had
any government aid In building roads
during the last seventy-five years 1t is
| because we have sent to congress men
who live in cities. They get bills passed
In the interest of cities. They have the
harbors and rivers improved. What we
want now is TO have the principle OF ma
| tional aid recognized. We want the gov
| eminent to appropriate a fixed part or
the money necessary to improve the roads
In rural districts. We have surplus in
! the United States treasury, and yet the
farmers in the rural districts cannot get
good roads. The men who have money
In the cities do not object to being taxed
! for road Improvement 1t is the hide
bound farmer living out In the country
that has been protesting. If the farmers
OF the country will organize and elect 10
congress men pledged TO carry out their
wishes they will get a national appropria-
ton to help them improve their roads
Governor Cummins Of Iowa idea"
fame also has some ideas on the road
question. He Is very much in favor of
better roads, but is rather inclined TO
fight shy" Of the national aid PROPOSE
ton, as will be seen In the following
statement:
| / believe that good roads are necessary
and that they are necessary now, and
shall be very sorry to see this great
movement and all the apostles and work.
| ers in this cause halt while we ask aid Of
the national government. The outcome
Of the proposition is problematical and
its propriety doubtful. Whatever national
aid may come In the future-and II may
come, and l do not oppose proper and
reasonable add, for one, believe that
each state ought to take up and carry
! forward this question for itself without
regard to national aid.
Judge j. b. Killebrew of Tennessee is
strongly in favor Of having Uncle Sam
help the people to build roads In the
country districts. He says:
Aside from the warrant which the con-
stitution gives for the construction OF
roads in the clause for the establishment
! OF post offices and post roads the gen
! eral welfare" clause ought 10 be sufficient
= If there were no other constitutional pro-
! vision. There is no other one thing that
can be done by the government that will
add more TO the general welfare Of the
people Of this country than to assist in
the building Of roads. 1t Is one thing
| that everybody wants. l shall never be
able to understand why the congress OF
, the United States should appropriate
million dollars for the construction and
Improvement OF the highways OF Porto
| Rico and devote large sum TO the same
purpose in the Philippines and yet hesi-
tate to make liberal appropriations TO aid
! in the building and Improvement OF public
roads for the conveyance OF the malls.
| The United States is regarded by the peo-
! pie of other nations as the most powerful
| agent in ameliorating the condition of the
| people of the world. In all that Is pro-
| gresslve except good roads II stands first.
| do not wish the government to build
roads throughout the United States, but
TO assist the local governments In that
work. should like to see the entire rev.
enue tax on tobacco devoted to aid In
! the building OF good highways In this
country. This tax now amounts to over
| $4,000. 900.
Hon. William j. Bryan has been
studying the road question, and. while
he is somewhat cautious about commit
ting himself, his expressions indicate
that he is inclined to favor the move
ment for federal aid. He says:
The expenditure OF money for the per-
! manent Improvement of the common
| roads can be defended % as a matter OF
| justice to the people who live In the
| country, CD as a matter OF advantage to
| the people who do not live In the country
and CO on the ground that the welfare OF
| the nation demands that the comforts OF
| country life shall. as far as possible. keep
pace with the comforts of city life.
| 1t Is a fact easily ascertained that the
people in the country. while paying their
| full share of county. state and federal
| taxes. receive, a rule, only the general
benefits OF government. while the people
| in the cities have In addition to the pro-
| lection afforded by the government. the
advantage arising from the expenditure
| Of public moneys in their midst. The
farmer not only pays his share Of the
| taxes, but more than his share. yet very
little Of what he pays gets back to the
| farmer. People In the city pay not only
less than their share. as a rule. but get
| back practically all OF the benefits that
come from the expenditure Of the peoples
| money.
| Just to what extent action should be
| taken by the federal government. the
| state government. the county and the
| precinct or I'm what proportion the burden
| should be borne Is question for discus
sion. but that country roads should be
| constructed with a view to permanent
| and continuous use is scarcely open to
debate The people may be depended up
| on TO find not only a remedy, but the
right remedy. The people now realize
| that bad roads are indefensible and are
| prepared to consider the remedy.