The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1905-05-27
TIE NATIONAL AID PROPOSITION.


When what is now known as the Brownlow
Good Roads Bill was first offered in the House
of Representatives it was regarded by some as
proposing dangerous innovation in our eco
nomic affairs but when studied in the abstract
it is found to be strictly within the line of we'll
established precedent and clearly-written con-
stitutionaI limitations. Government aid to
good roads was entered upon under the aus
pices of President Jefferson, who set forth the
policy with great spirit. Had not the authority
been in the Constitution it would not have
had his sanction. There is nothing in the Con-
stitution inhibiting national aid to good roads.
There is abundant authority in the Constitu-
ton for such aid. The doubt about this no
longer exists.
The paramount question at this time is, have
we in the United States satisfactory highway
conditions; are the means of communication
between town and country adequate to public
necessity; are the highways creditable to our
advanced intelligence and civilization; do We
need better roads, and can they be had in any
other way than by national aid, by govern
ment cooperation with the states?
Every intelligent being within the bounds
of the Union knows that the average wagon
road is for perhaps six months of every year
community horror and state and national
shame. 1t is just as we'll to use plain speech
in dealing with practical facts. When care
fully collected statistics show that only per
cent. of the wagon roads are good, we know by
the same token that 95 per cent are bad; and
the questions just asked are answered at once.
Can these unhappy conditions be corrected by
the states? There are all the years of state ex-
perience in road making to prove the negative.
Since the earliest organization of the states the
country has experimental with roads under
local systems, and yet the average wagon road
is but little better today than when first blazed
out in the forest or laid along the plain. 1t is
this that has convinced advanced thinkers that
effective road construction in the states is only
possible through government aid and co-opera-
ton. The reasons for this are not far to seek.
Good roads-roads that will last-can only be
built upon scientific plans. There are but four
or five states in the Union wealthy enough to
inaugurate such plan. If scientifically con-
structed roads will benefit the counties they
will benefit the states and the Nation. This is
q self-evident deduction. Then there should
be cooperation of the government with the
states anG counties.
Another thing: The government owns
property in all the states upon which it pays
not one cent of taxes. It has taken charge of
the public roads for the transaction of its rural
mail business, upon which it places fixed
charges against the people who built these
roads without its aid. 1t ought in mere justice
to be willing to help better the roads for its
own uses, even lift had no concern in the well
fare of the people. In addition to its post
offices, custom houses and court houses in all
the states and territories, the government pos
sesses lands, parks and other property. 1t has
direct interest in the advancement Of every
community, and the reciprocal obligation of
government is to protect and foster the natural
interest of each individual.
These obligations will not be fulfilled until
the government assists in improving the pub
lie roads. If it is proper for the government
to aid in the improvement of its water courses
for the extension of commerce-which courses
must ever carry a small percentage of the total
commerce of the nation-then, it is surely the
duty of the government to aid in the improve
ment of the land, or primary, means of trans
portation over which So per cent. of all pro-
ducts must be moved before it reaches a rail-
way or steamboat.
The proposition for government aid to good
roads is right and we hope to see it enacted
into law, as it will be if the people keep after
their Senators and Representatives in Congress.