Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1906-09-06
q
9 a S.
Senator Latimer on Road Question.

AoooS VI TIE country engaged the at
tention OF our ablest statesmen from
1902 to 1882, and during that period
about $14,OO0.000 was appropriated
by Congress for road purposes. All
the great minds Of that period were
IN %conceding this question to be
OF the highest Importance in deter
mining the happiness and prosperity
OF the American people. It is to-day.
az 1t was then, a question which de-
ilands h earnest consideration Of
kerry AHlrrican citizen. The mud
tax, levied on our peoplsD IS TIN mis-
cradle condition 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 transporting
all the freight, passengers, mail and
express, over all the railroads of the
United States. In 1896 the railroads
received from all sources a little over
$700,000,000. Every dollar of this
was returned to the people in the en-
ployment of labor, payment for ma
terial, in taxes to the States, and in
interest on invested capital. The one
billion dollars or more spent in cost
Of transportation over the dirt roads.
was a total loss, not one cent being
returned to the people in axes or as
interest on invested capital. And yet
this is only a portion Of the loss.
In this enlightened age no one
questions the stupendous advantages
which would follow a complete sys-
tenn of improved roads. The cost
of the work would be paid by the saw
ings of or year. On the improved
| roads of Europe the cost of trans
! porting a ton a mile is from eight to
twelve cents, while in the United
States the cost averages twenty-five
cents. A reduction of this cost by
one-half would save to the American
people $500,000,000 per annum.
The practical question which con-
fronts US to-day is how is this on
dition to be met and overcome?
Upon whom must the burden Of this
great undertaking fall? We have
tried the present system, which vas
inherited from England, which has
not resulted IN much Improvement in
the last one hundred years, and, In
, my Judgment, will never prove a sue
cess.
It is evident that some change in
our method of road improvement
must be adopted. The local COM
munity is not able to construct roads
unaided. Many of the States are not
able to do So, and even if they were,
there is a feeling which, in my opin-
ion. is justly founded, that it would
be unjust to require them to bear the
whole burden. The OF
raw material and food products
throughout the United States are
equally interested with the producer
in lowering the cost Of Transports
ton, as they, in the end, have to pay
this heavy tax. AS this burden can
not be equally distributed, except b!
placing it on all the people, and a.
the most remunerative powers O.
raising revenue, originally held b.
the States, are now il the Fedora
Government. it is only by an appro
priation out of the Federal Treasur.
that the Improvement Of our road
can be accomplished with justice t.
all the people.
The next question which present
itself is as to the power of Congress
to make such an appropriation.
think that the power exists by ex
press grant in the Constitution. Bas
ing my opinion on the views OF sue!
eminent men as Madison, Monroe
G~allatin, Webster, Calhoun, Clay an
Adams, and taking into considerable
the legislative history of the coun
try, I hold hat the power is clearl
established. The power has been ea
ercised whenever Congress thought
wise to do SO, and the only Questio
which Is really important is whethe
or rot this is a proper subject fo
Federal aid. All that is asked by tn
bill introduced by me is the apprt
priation of a fund for road purpose
The States are to furnish the rlgf
of way, maintain the roads after the
are built, and pay one-half the COS
Congress is not asked to invade II
States, but simply to %appropria'
money as an aid to an object for tt
general welfare and happiness OF q
the people. There could be no be
ter investment of the public -un'
than in road improvement. 1t won
enhance the value OF farm lands fro
ten to fifty per cent. An increase
value Of SIS an acre would add 5;
100000 900 to the wealth OF t
country in this item alone. The &C
qestion of business during the whit
months would disappear, and o
neop1e could GO to the markets at
times. In fact, the material adTa
+ares which would follow are t
numerous to mention and too ere
to estimate.
What will we do with the prof.
eit;on? Will we go on for the M
,ne hundred years as we haze DUR
the last, or will we arouse oursei'
and make this question a burni
NE before the people Until d