The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1904-02-10
GOOD ROADS.
A Blll Before Congress 70 Appro-
pirate $7l,ooo,ooo, % Assist The
Different State % Improving
Their R0adS.

Times Democrat.
At the last session of Congress a
bill was introduced by Mr.. BrOwnlOw
of Tennessee, making a liberal appro-
priation to assist the States in the
construction of better roads. The bill
had strong support from all parts OF
the country, and but for the rush OF
business during the last days OF the
session it would probably have passed.
1t has been reintroduced at the present
session, carrying an appropriation OF
$24, OOO, 900 and is again being pressed,
with every chance of success, unless
the Republican majority in Congress
becomes infected with the craze OF
economy in order to help MIR. Roose-
welt in his presidential ambitions.
The splendid results coming from
good roads are appreciated, and the
objection of the Federal government
in the matter is fully recognized. 1t
has set aside a small sun each year
to be used in a propaganda, to de-
mOnstrate the value, from a financial
point of view. of better roads. to give
the people practical lessons in road
building and to assist in holding on
| ventiOns to discuss the subject.
A number of these conventions have
been held-One met in New Orleans a
| short time go. it will be remembered
and the field has been we'll worked
up. The Brownlow bill proposes to
90 a step further and assist in the
construction of better roads, as there
can be no surer Or more practical
| demonstration of the value of good
roads than the actual construction OF
several thousand miles of them. The
farmer will appreciate how much he
is benefited by travelling over high
ways in perfect order far better than
he can possibly learn from a paper
argument of the question. 1t is, OF
course, not proposed that the Federal
government should construct all the
roads in this country, but it is hoped
by assisting in the work to encourage
more of it. New jersey has accom-
plished much in this line by the State
agreeing to assist any county con-
structing new highways, and the
public interest has thus been aroused.
Federal assistance will have the same
effect, for once the people see and
become accustomed to good roads
they will demand them on all the main
lines of transportation. 1t is not for
gotten that the Federal government by
| similar assistance encouraged the
building of the steam railways which
have done SO much to get rid of our
| old post roads, for in this matter we
have actually refrigerated and our
highways, as a whole, are not as good
as they were a half century ago. We
have grown SO dependent on the rail-
ways for transportation that we have
overlooked the highways, which are
tributaries to them.
Under the Brownlow bill, Louisiana
will receive 800, 900 from the Federal
Treasury TO assist it in road construc-
ton. It's roads are about as bad as
those of any State in the Union, and
while a few parishes have done some
thing in this connection by special
taxation or appropriations made by
the police jury, most of our highways
are bad at all times and we'll nigh
impossible during q rainy season,
entailing an tax on both
farmer and merchant. Louisiana has
shown q deep interest in good roads
and has held several conventions or
conferences on the subject. All 1t
needs is encouragement and stimula-
ton: and there Fan be nc better way
of giving this encouragement than
through the Brownlow bill.