The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-14

far general and national, why should
not there be national aid2
IN Notwithstanding all these argu-
ments, the fact that there are 2,000,-
900 miles of highways in this country,
only per cent of which are already
improved, and that il make an Ordi-
nary maca damized road costs from
$4,000 to $4,000 per mile, must stag
ger those who advocate that the gen
eral government shall take the sole
control and bear the entire expense.
The United States will hardly under
take the task singlehanded.
In the last ten years Massachu-
sets has appropriated nearly $5,0O0,-
600 for good roads, and has provided
the next five years for the same pur-
pose 1t has already about 1000 miles
of improved roads and its aim is to
complete system throughout the
state. Under this plan the state pays
three-fourths of the cost and the
county one-fourth, while the state
bears the expense of maintenance and
repair
New Jersey is one of the foremost
states in the building of roads. 1t has
a state highway commission, which
determines what roads shall be i'm
proved and the character of the i'm
provement. The state pays two-thirds
of the expense, and the balance is as
sessed against the counties and town
ships.
land Virginia and North Carolina
have provided state commissions,
while most of the southern states have
enacted laws authorizing the appli-
cation of prison labor to the making
of roads.
"One obstacle to the immediate
building of roads by the state itself.
is a limitation in our constitution,
providing that the state shall never
be party in carrying on any works
of internal Improvement The courts
have said that this provision prohibits.
the state from building highways. It
would be easy to amend the constftu-
ton so that the state could build roads
with public money. under state super
vision. It would seem to the writer
that roadmaking could be more econ
omically and effectively done under
state or federal authority than under
the supervision of the subordinate di-
visions of the state.
THE better plan, it seems to me, is
the one adopted in some of the states,
where a state road commission is Gre
ated which determines what road shall
be built first, the width to be improved
and the materials which shall be used.
The roads leading to the principal
places, and which would be most used
should be first improved The state leg
islature should make an appropriation
to be used under the direction of the
commission, the state to pay one-half
of the improvement. the county and
townships TO ray the balance. Perhaps
the owners of land along the road who
are especially benefited by the improve /
ment might we'll be required to pay a /
share of the expense. and strongly IN |
cline to the view that the United States /
should share the responsibility and /
burden.
''The general plan employed in cities
in inaugurating Improvement ofgtreets. /
might be adopted. The construction I
should be done under state direction. |
while the repair and maintenance of T
=. -
ably be placed on the county townships +
''In this county the commissioners +
built road about two miles long from /
the western part Of the city out to +
Cages park which is a model of its :
kind. and is far superior to a. short /
section built here a few years ago by [
the government experts It has been +
subjected to the severest treatment, be- +
cause Immediately after its conStruc- /
ton narrow-tired brick wagons, carry /
ing four and five tons passed over it, I
but with no apparent injury to the /
macadam. A portion of it was along /
the line dividing the city and the coun- |
ty. There one-third of the expense was
borne by the county, one-third by the +
city and the remaining third by the I
owners Of abutting property.
Several years ago congress appro- I
prfated s. 600 to be used under the d. /
rectiOn Of the department of agTcul- /
ture to encourage the building of roads, /
and there have been annual allowances /
since which have been increased to $2O- |
600. A division called the office of pub
lie road inquiries was established in
the department and much GOOD has /
been done in the way of investigating /
methods and materials to be used in
rOad-Tna king, the distribution of litera-
ture showing the necessity for and the
advantages of good roads, and the Civ
ing cf avice by experts to local munich
palities and officers. A laboratory was
established at Washington for scieutih- /
he fer 1e n
different sections of the country, and
which might be used in making roads.
A good roads train has been sent out in
charge of experts who in cooperation
with local authorities, have built short
sections of roads as examples, exhibit
ed appliances for roadnaxing, and de-
hvered addresses to the public on the
general subject.
THE functions OF the general gov
should not be limited to the
mere dissemination of information as
to good road making, and a measure
was introduced in the last congress
providing that the federal government
might join with the states and counties
IN the construction of roads 1t pro-
vides for a bureau under the charge
OF a director and a corps of civil en-
gineers and chemists and experts,
with appropriations enabling the bu-
reau to make Investigations and ex-
periments in regard to the best meth
pas and the best materials for road
to cooperate in the building
Of object-lesson roads in the various
states, to employ local and special
agents and other labor necessary to
conduct experiments and illustrating
the results of such experiments, to in
vestlgate the chemical and physical
character of road materials. to pur-
chase necessary apparatus. materials
and supplies. to pay freight and ex-
press charges, to publish bulletins and
reports on the subject of road i'm
and to assist in the build
ing and improving of roads and high
ways in such states, counties and
townships in the country as shall de-
-ermine to follow the plans and meth