Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-01-22
THE BRCwNL0w ROADS BILL.

ine 6kUWNlUW kUAUS BILL.
The Brownlow bill now pending in
congress has for its theme the appro-
priation of s24,OO0.oOO to be applied TO
the building of good wagon roads thru
out the United States by the national
government. 1t was introduced by
Hon. Walter P. Brownlow, of Ten
nessee. and Hon. Jacob H. Gallinger. of
New Hampshire. The arguments adj
sanced in its favor are so cogent that
10 read them forces one to concede
their soundness.
The bill provides that the appropri-
alton be available at the rate of S.
100000 a year. apportioned to each
state according to the relative number
of Inhabitants, excepting that those
states whose population is less than
100000 shall not receive less than
$25o.000. The bill further provides
that each state, county, or town. to be
beneficiary of this contemplated ma
tional appropriation, must add an
amount equal to the amount received
thus the total of the good wagon roads
fund, as provided for in the Brownlow
4 bill. would be $4S.OoO.00O.
This bill comes up for congressional
action in the near future. 1t is direct
" and materially of important inter-
est to every resident of the United
States. but 1t is specially important to
every dweller In the country districts.
The sponsors of the Brownlow bill adj
5ure all citizens to write to their con-
gressmen and senators. urging them
to vote for 1t. and TO use
~ireir influence with their fellow mem
bers of congress to make 1t law.
As to the constitutional powers of
the government in relation to the pur-
1t cites that the national government
appropriatcs about $30,0o0.000 a year
:. for rivers and harbors; that 1t gives
towns and cities great public building
such as postoffices. court houses, etc:
that 1t gives manufacturers protection
by the tariff: that it justly gives vet
Grams and their families about $780,
100000: that 1t has loaned its credit
20 private individuals to build railways
and given them grants of millions of
acres of land.
Concerning the economic advantages
Of good wagon roads, Mr.. Brownlow
lTresents the following illustration of
differences between good and
bad roads. Taking s1.25 as basis. he
avers thaSit will pay for hauling one
ton 5 miles on common road. 12is to
IS miles on we'll made stone road. %
miles on trolley road, $50 miles on
q steam railroad. and 1000 miles on
steamship. He further presents for con-
alteration that on n good wagon road
: the farmer can haul his produce to
market and the necessary supplies 10
his home the year round: that he can
haul twice as much and In less time.
thus in way obtaining a better price:
that saving on the wear of wagons.
team and temper, is effected; that
farm contiguous to good road has a
much greater monetary value than IL
\ contiguous to poor road. and that in
short the facilities for rapid transit in
the country are as necessary as they
are In the city. He maintains that
the benefits conferred by the trolley
roads In the cities are equally to be
conferred on the farmer by good wagon
roads which insure rapid transit for the
farmer and his produce.
1t Is further urged that foreign gov
ernments have appropriated large sums
for the building and maintenance OF
good roads. notably France, which has
s3,6os, miles of wagon roads made, and
maintained at the governments az.
pense: that Italy has 5000 miles under
similar conditions.