The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-09
GOOD ROADS LEGISLATION
A MATTER OF NATIONAL IMPOR-
LANCE TO COME BEFORE CON-
GREISS. - ...5i'
rom The Journal Bureau, Colorado Building,

From The Journal Bureau Colorado Building,
Washington. =. All
IL Washington, Jan. 9.-It is not
known yet whether congress will con-
slider any good roads legislation this
session or not, but it is conceded that
the time has about arrived when seri-
Gus attention must be given to the
subject. In the opinion Of officials of
the department of agriculture, the day
is not far distant when the federal
government will take up the improve
ment of country roads, just as it has
taken up the question of rural free
delivery. The excuse for this will be
the expediting of the mails, and thus
in an important sense rural free de-
livery is to help forward the good
work set on foot by Wheelmen and au-
tomo bilists.
A favorite plan is to have the gov
eminent make an appropriation for
certain state, to be balanced by an
equal amount provided by the Iegisla-
ture and by the board of commission
ers in the county where the work is
to be done. A few object lessons of
this sort it is believed will do much
to strengthen the impression on the
mind Of the average farmer that it
is to his interest to have better means
of communication with his neighbors
and with the towns near him.
From the Alleghenies to the Mis-
sissippi, country roads in many obun-
ties are in a condition that almost
reaches perfection. The farmers there
have been educated to understand
that good roads will help them get to
market. A farmer living ten miles
from his county seat in the middle
west, and reckoning the distance by
the time it takes to- drive it, is able
| under the improving highway condi-
| tons to reach town in almost half the
time that was formerly consumed.
| The practical value Of this change he
| is not. long in seeing.
Several good roads bills have al
| ready appeared in the present con-
gress. One has been introduced by
Mr.. Hay of Virginia, and provides for
an appropriation of $4,000 for the
completion Of the Jefferson memorial
object-lesson road from Charlottes-
Vile to Monticello, three miles. This
bill is, Of course, local in character,
| Another bill has been introduced by
Senator Gallinger of New Hampshire.
1t provides for the creation in the
department of agriculture Of a good
roads bureau, intended to bring about
| a uniform system of road taxation,
method of. construction, repair and
maintenance in all the states, the
cost to be borne by the national and
state governments in the manner in
| Dictated above. The bill contains a
provision that roads so constructed
shall be kept in perpetual repair, and
the point is made in the bill that the
governments interest in the PROPOSE
ton lies in securing better facilities
for the transmission Of mail by the
rural carriers.
| For the purpose of carrying out the
provisions of this act, Senator Gal
! inger would have. congress set aside
| $24OOO,OOO, to be drawn on at the rate
of s8,O00,O00 per annum. This. sum
is to be distributed among the sew
eral states according to population, each
state having less than 100000 inhab-
itants to receive $250,00O.
Senator Gallinger's name gives this
bill considerable prestige, and shows
| that serious and conservative mem
bers of congress believe the general
/ government has a duty to perform in
the making Of high grade rural high
| ways. w. w. Jermane.