The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-07-29


that issue. Last fall he introduced
into the Senate bill for National aid
similar to that which Congressman
Brownlow introduced into the House
and he has defended it ably and elo-
Quently. In an address recently de.
livered at the Beacon Society dinner
at Boston he said:
1.-THE improvement Of the common
roads of the country engaged the at
tention of our ablest statesmen from
1902 to 1882, and during that period
about $14,000,0G0 was appropriated by
Congress for road purposes. All the
great minds of that period were one in
cOnceding this question to be OF the
higest importance in determining the
happiness and prosperity of the
American people. 1t is to-day, as it
was then, question which demands
the earnest consideration of every
American citizen. The mud tax, levied
on our people b. the miserable condi-
ton Of the common roads, is the most
onerous that we have to pay. It will
astonish you to know that it costs the
people of the United States every year
more to transport the surplus products
of the, farm and forest to the shipping
point, than the total cost of transport
ing all the freight, passengers, mail
and express over all the railroads of
the United States. III 1895 the rail
roads received from all sources q little
over $700,G00,000. Every dollar of this
was returned to the people in the en-
ployment of labor, payment for mater
ial, in taxes to the States, and in in
terest on invested capital. The one
billion dollars or more spent in cost of
deportation ever the dirt roads was
a total loss, not one cent being re-
turned to the people in taxes or as in
terest on invested capital. And yet this
is only a portion Of the loss caused by
the poor conGitio II of our roads.
I'm this enlightened age no one ques-
tons the stupendous advantages which
follow complete system of improved
roads. The cost of the work would be
paid by the savings of one year. On
the improved roads Of Europe the cost
of transporting ton q mile is from
eight to twelve cents, while in the
United States the cost averages TWEEN
ty-tive cents. A reduction of this cost
by one-half would save to the Ameri
can people $500, 100000 per annum.
The practical question which con-
fronts us to-day is how is this condi
finn tn no of anI nrnrnn,o1a9 VTnnn !
whom must the burden of this great
fall? We have tried the |
present system which was inherited
from England, which has not resulted |
in much Improvement in the past 100
years, and in my Judgment, will never
prove success.
ut is evident that some change in our
method of road Improvement must be
adopted. The local community is not
able to construct roads unaided. Many |
Of the States are not able to do so,
and even if they were there is q feel
ing, which, in my opinion, is justly
founded that it would be unjust to
require them to bear the whole bur
den. The consumers of raw material
and food products throughout the
United States are equally interested
with the producer in lowering the cost
Of transportation, as they, in the cad.
have to pay this heavy tax AS this
burden cannot be equitably distrib-
lted except by placing it on all the
people, and as the most remunerative
powers of raising revenue, originally
leld by the States, are now in the Fed
eral Government, il is only by an APP
out of the Federal Treas
Try that the improvement of our
'oads can be accomplished with jus
ice to all the people.
THE next question which presents
tsclf is as to the power Of Congress
o make such an appropriation thin,a
hat the power exists by express grant
Il the Constitution. Basing my opinion
n the views CO such eminent men
IS Madison. Monroe, Gallatin, Web
ter. Calhoun, Clay and Adams, and
ahing into consideration the legis!a-
i've history Of the country, hold that
ne power is clearly established The
ower has been exercised whenever
congress thought it wise to do so, and
he only question which is really i'm
ortant is whether or not this is a
roper subject for Federal aid All
hat is asked by the bill introduced
y me is the appropriation of a fund
or road purposes. The States are to
urnish the right of way, maintain the
Dads after they are built, and pay
ne half the cost. Congress is not
sked to invade the States, but simply
, appropriate money as an aid to an
bject for the general welfare and {