Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1904-03-04
Federal Aid In Road Building.


The Brownlow bill. now pending IN
congress. brings the question Of good
roads 10 the front In a new and radical
form. IL provides for the creation OF a
new bureau OF the agricultural depart
ment which shall he responsible for The
building of the proposed roads; makes
tie s2I.O00.O00 appropriated available
at the rate Of SS.O00.OOO a year for
three years: stlpulates that the money
shall he divided among the states ac-
cOrding TO population. except that m
state shall receive less than $2J0O00 Of
the entire amount; requires each state,
county or town, rs a condition Of par
ticipating In the fund. To raise nm
amount equal to that received from the
general government: fixes the limit of
time within which the money must be
utilized for the purpose named AT Jan.
l. 1907. and directs that II any state
fails to take up its allotment the mOn-
ey not used shall I've re-allotted TO the
other states.
In considering this measure there arr
two questions to he decided-ls 1t d
proper service for ts. government to
he engaged in? and, If so. Is il eXpetli
ent? The Boston Transcript answers
both these questions in the affirmative
expressing the belief that
The nation would be repaid for ex-
penditure OF this kind in increased pros
perity, enhanced values and a general
raising of the moral, the religious and the
educational tone OF its people There is
almost a discernible difference today be-
tween the citizen who lives on a good
road and the one who lives on a bad one.
They have different aspira ations and diff
ferent standards Of business. Good roads
are among civilizations best missionaries.
The Springfield Mass Union also
approves the theory Of the Brownlow
bill and says:
The government should come to the as
sistance Of the financially weak states In
precisely the same way IL did In carry ing
out its railroad policy. Good roads mean
increased prosperity, and from every
standpoint they better the condition Of
the people. The government has enough
money locked up and idle In the treasury
to make the appropriation asked for in
the Brownlow bill, and this measure
should receive the cordial support OF our
representatives In the congress.
The Minneapolis Progress In an cdi-
torial on good roads legisa ton in gen
eral says:
Public sentiment has lately grown in IA
vor OF state aid and national aid COM
bined. State aid alone can accomplish
much In cooperation with local authori-
ties. but backed by national aid the work
OF road improvement is put upon the most
substantial basis. National aid has been
given to river and harbor improvements,
to the building of railroads, to the erec-
tion OF public buildings and to other pub
lie works and institutions. but the farm
ers. to whom good roads are necessity
for agricultural prosperity. have had COM
paratively little national aid in the way
of Improvement appropriations or helpful
legislation. .--...
The Duluth (Minn.) Herald Is OF the
same opinion and says:
Good roads are economical. The farmer
their influence is being felt.
The Omaha (Neb.) Bee thinks that
the government must stimulate and
aid the people In the work OF prorid-
ing good roads, but adds:
1t Is unlikely that there will be any action
taken La the matter by the present con-
gress. or, at any rate. at this session. but
| IL the agricultural interests OF the country
| earnestly espouse the public roads cause
| Ii will certainly in time receive from
| congress the consideration to which its
| obvious Importance entities it.
The TaCom wash, News estimates
that the passage of the BrownlOw bill
would result In the construction Of be-
| tween 6.OO0 and 1900 miles Of splendid
roads, and the News. thinks that there
should he no need for argument in fa-
vor of the measure since its merits are
SO plain and the need for better roads
so great. 1t says:
While the United States has more miles
of railway than all the other countries
| of the globe combined 1t Is lamentable
fact that we have the poorest wagon roads
of any civilized country. The federal gov
ernment has aided the construction OF
transconsincntal railroads and has ex-
| pended hundreds Of millions of dollars In
| river and harbor improvements. but has
done nothing to aid the improvement OF
roads. 1t Is justly argued that the fed
eral government may now fairly lend its
aid to the commonwealths In the improve.
ment Of wagon roads throughout the
United States.
As to the desirability of having good
roads there Is Of course no dissenting
argument. but it is not quite certain
that federal aid Is the best way to Sc
cure this end. 1t Is urged that the sew
eral localities Of the country should
take care Of their own highways and
further, that any community which has
not the public spirit and enterprise tt
construct Its own roads would scarcely
have sufficient appreciation of them Il
keep them In repair if they were bull
by somebody else.
|
Should the war in the east last long
this country will be drawn upon fol
large quantities Of supplies by botl