The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1904-04-07

1 n Shearty cooperation with
HCN the friends of the Brown
low Dlil which proposes the organiza-
ton of a national road bureau and an
appropriation of S24, 100000 to be used
in conjunction with the different States
for bodybuilding. 1t is entirely in har-
mony with the purposes of that meas
ure on the main question, but proposes
quite number Of minor amendments.
in order to harmonic the bill with
State laws, and the law of our own
State in particular. The original bill
conflicts with our own statute, mas
much as it provides for advertising and
contra citing by the director of the coed
roads bureau instead o. the Massachu.
sets Highway Commission, and that
would prevent the State from becom-
ing beneficiary under its terms as at
present formulated.
The commission of no State is better
qualified than that Of cur own to make
practical suggestions for the better
ment of the bill. 1t has achieved more
proportionally if not absolutely than
any other, and in the process Of edu
eating various communities in good
road building it has also educated it
self. 1t is now building better roads
and building them more economically
than when these enterprises were first
undertaken, and it's experience ought
to be of great value in an practical
attempt to broaden and even nation
alize the movement. The commission
has sent draft Of the BrOwnlow bill.
with its own suggested amendments.
to every representative and United
States Senator, with some excellent
arguments in its support.
AS we have already said, there are
two questions, to be settled before the
bill should be favorably reported,
which are: Is it proper services for
the Government to engage in, and. if
so, is it expedient? Both these cues
tons are affirmatively and, it seems to
us, conclusively answered in the COM
missions analysis Of the project.
contends that Government aid is no
new thing in tie United States, and
had it not been extended at the proper
time millions of acres of productive
land would now be in state of nature
instead of supporting a population of
100000 souls" f course, we are
all familiar with the fact that the Gov
ernment is a regular and liberal sup
porter Of annual schemes for the i'm
proyement of rivers and harbors. We
likewise remember the princely con-
cessions and grants made to the trans
continental railroad companies, in or
der to develop the great West, and we
are sensible Of the value and even the
vital Importance Of this policy to our
national prosperity and integrity; but
not so many of us are aware that Gov
eminent aid to the construction of
highways was one Of the earliest acts
authorized by the Government for the
internal development of the country.
In the commissions brief it is de-
clared that ''the building of a road
from tide water to the Ohio country
was a pet project of Washington"
He did not live to SCI it acted upon,
but in 1911 such 4 road was begun and
seven years later it was completed at
cost to the United States of $1,000
600. For thirty four years subsequent
to that time, it was the one great high
way over which passed the mails and
the bulk of the trade and travel be-
tween the East and the West and like
the 100000 paid for Alaska, the pur-
chase price was repaid to the people
Of this country many fold.
That seems to at once establish the
propriety and the, expediency of the
proposition. The commission states
very truly that the money appropriated
for roads is largely wasted Tor the rea-
son that the local roadmaster does not
know how to wisely expend it, where
as in those States where aid has been
given under scientific direction for this
purpose, sit has worked a revolution.
The roads built have con-
vinced the most skeptical that they not
only cost less to maintain, Lut reduce
the cost of hauling from twenty-five
to fifty per cent" That the nation
should be repaid for expenditure of
this kind in increased prosperity, en-
HANGED values and general raising of
the moral, the religious and the edu-
cational tone of its people" we Go not
doubt. There is almost a discernible
difference today between the citizen
who lives on good road and the one
who lives on a bad one. They have
different aspirations and different
standards Of business. Good roads are
among Civilizations best missionaries
Boston Transcript.
Costa Rica Deficient.