Evening journal., 1907-08-14
EARLE'S ROAD BILL.
How He Would Have the Govern
ment Improve Highways.
WANTS BUREAU ESTABLISHED.

Gates OF good roads in the United
States Is Horatio S. Earle, the state
highway commissioner OF Michigan,
who has done so much 10 improve the
roads OF the Wolverene State. Mr..
Earle wants the government TO aid IN
improving our highways, and he has
drawn a national reward road bill.
which will be introduced In the next
congress by Congressman Charles e.
Townsend. In an argument he made
for his bill recently Mr.. Earle said;
Our educational advantages are far
ahead OF any other country. Our postal
service r. fair, but not equal 70 that OF a
few nations. However. we, are taking
steps every day 70 improve II and have
made wondroua progress IN the past ton
years Our methods OF transportation
Take the railroads. They are the best IN
the world. They ought 20 be- We've done
enough 70 make them good-frst btdlt
them and then gave them away and paid
this takers large sums Of money every
year 10 keep them.
But our common. everyday wagon roads7
BY gum, they are by all odds the poorest
on the face Of this green oarth--no other
civilized nation on the globe but has bot
ter than We. Why is it7 Ia Il because we
are poor7 A people that has created and
builded nation IN day, with more mill
honaires than any other two countries
can claim. poor? Well hardly. The trou-
bic is that we are 30 blamed rich that we
can live even with poor roads. It would
bankrupt a commonly blessed nation to
haul the product OF neld and factory over
such abominable roads.
What are we going 70 do about itf
Knowing as we do that the nation has
paid out In land and money 10 railroads
and rivers and harbors $1,000 100000 or
81 900 per mile for every one OF the
100000 miles Of public wagon road
there Is in this home land Of ours. isn't It
about time that we insisted upon having
some national aid on our highways that
the roads OF our country may show signs
OF civilization-may show that our reli-
gion has taken effect and that we arc
putting our education TO a good use, bers-
fiting our postal facilities and mak'lg II
easy for US TO get TO the charch, to
school TO library, lodge therter TO mar
ket and, last but far fro-h least. TO our
neighbor's dinner table and sitting room7
This can bo brought about all over the
United States only b. national assistance.
No other country ever got good roads In
any other WY Then why should there
be longer delay IN following the prece-
dent established by all the nations that
have good roads? ] am one OF very
large majority OF the people OF this ooun-
try that demand national help.
Among other things Mr.. Earles road
bill calls for are the following:
To establish in the department OF agri-
culture a bureau to be known as the Unit
ed States highway department and to pro-
vide for national reward for the improve
mont Of the public wagon roads.
That the object and purpose OF said de-
partment shall be 70 assist In ana encour-
age the improving OF the public wagon
~ as 70 the various states and territories
of = United States by the payment OF
nj kTA reward. according 70 the provi-
siA this act; 10 make investigations.
elt Annts and tests ia regard 20 meth
q road making and road mnterials
II sh without charge 20 any state or
urrv y the result OF any such investlga-
diilV experiment. or test upon request OF
H.. state or territorial highway commits
sloner. state engineer or other officer or
officers having In charge the question Of
improving the public wagon roads Of such
state or territory; 10 give advice, infor-
nation and reports on the subject OF
roads. road improvement. road material
and so forth. by means OF lectures. hulle-
tins or otherwise; 20 suggest from time to
time laws which. n enacted, would tend
10 bring about as far as may be a uni
form system for the construction, repair
and Improvement OF the public wagon
That an officer TO be known as the Unit
ed States highway commissioner shall be
appointed by the president, by and with
the advice and consent OF the senate,
within nfteen days after this act shall
take effect. Such commissioner shall be
citizen OF the United states and shall
have practical knowledge OF road con-
Htructlon. improvement and repair lie
shall receive a salary OF 5000 per annum.
That whenever any state or territory
shall nlo notice with the United States
highway commissioner through the ofiicer
or officers having IN charge the matter OF
| improving or aiding IN the improving OF
the public wagon roads OF such state or
territory or the officers OF any two or
more states or territories shall do 20
Jointly, stating that II is the intention Of
the state or states, territory or territories,
TO build certain number OF miles OF road
such as will merit United States reward.
Il shall be the duty OF the United States
highway commissioner 10 furnish general
plans and specifications which, II follow
ed. viii cntitle the state or territory 10
receive the amount OF reward due for the
length and class OF road built
That every mile OF well Rradcd road on
which the steepest incline shall not ex-
coed per cent and the width OF which
shall not be less than eighteen feet be-
tween side bitches and which shall be
properly drained and crowned so as to
shed water quickly 20 the side bitches
and which shall have wagon way or
travel track not less than twelve feet
wide made IN two courses and thoroughly
compacted II built IN accordance with
the plans and specifications OF the United
States highway commissioner and approx
ed by him. shall merit reward as follows:
II built Of gravel, 800 per mile, II built
with one course OF approved stone and
one course OF gravel. $3.50 per mile; II
macadamiEed, 1900 per mile. II che Unit
ed states highway commissioner shall by
investigation OF experiment find that
some other material than those mention
ed In this section Is equal to them or any
one OF them then he may prepare plans
and specifications for roads to be built OF
such material and shall place them in one
OF the classes described In this section,
and such roads shall be entitled 70 receive
the reward OF the class 20 which they are
assigned by the said commissioner.
! That the decision OF the United States
/ highway commissioner shall be final reia-
tive 70 whether the road is built well
enough 20 merit United States reward OF
3 not
/ That there is hereby appropriated out OF
any moneys In the treasury not otherwise
I appropriated for tho purpose OF carrying
out the provisions Of this act the sum Of
/ 800. 900 900. the said appropriation 20 be
available az the rate cf su0.oo000o year,
/ beginning with the year IN which this act
shall take effect. II any portion OF the
/ Noooo,00o appropriated for any one year
shall not be expended IN the year for
/ which n Is appropriated. such portion no,
expended shall be added to the $40 00o ooC
available IN the year following.