Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-05-19
GOOD ROAD CAMPAIGN
Policy of Construction Favored
by the National Grange.
GOVERNMENTS AID WANTED,
Farmers Ask For National Highway
Commission and For Federal Ap.
preparations 10 Improve and Main.
tain Public Roadways.

tain Public Roadways.
The national grange. an organlza.
ton OF farmers I'm twenty-seven states
with an aggregate membership OF near.
~ 100000 members. has for a mum.
Der OF years advocated the enactment
by congress OF legislation creating a
national highways commission and
making liberal appropriations for the
Improvement OF the public roads Dur.
ing the past year the grange has per
fectcd plans for conducting wide.
spread, systematic. educational cam.
paign for the purpose of showing the
urgent necessity for the adoption OF n
broad. comprehensive policy OF public
highway Improvement by the various
township. county and state authori.
ties AM to induce tie national govern
ment To lend its assistance to a move
ment intended to secure the establish
ment of II complete system of,properly
constructed roads In all sections of the
United States.
1t Is cOntcnded by the members OF
the grange that the Improvement of
our highways is fully as deserving
OF federal appropriations as is the
Improvement of our waterways nal
that the work OF the proposed nationa!
highways commission would greatly
stimulate the construction OF better
roads by the various states, counties
and townships The splendid road sys.
TEN of France, admitted To be the best
In the world, is declared to be due
chiefly TO the road policy of the French
national government. under which. a
corps of highly trained engineers plan
and direct the work of constructing
and maintaining the principal roads of
that country
The dcplorable condition OF most of
the roads I'm the United States. mob
ably the worst In any civilized coun-
try, Is generally recognized. and II Is
urged by the grange that it Is high
time that action should be taken by
the national government to bring or.
der out OF the existing chaotic condi.
tons and substitute scientific policy
or road construction and Improvement
for the haphaZard methods which now
prevail to so large an extent.
The following resolutions, unani.
mously adopted by the National
grange, give the point of view from
which the farmers regard the question
of federal aid to public road improve.
ment:
Whereas. The Improvement OF the high
ways or the country is matter of gen
eral public concern and should properly
receive the attention and assistance of
the national government: and
whereas. The revenue raised by taxes
paid ny the people OF the country as a
whole should be devoted as far as posi-
BILE to purposes which Will benefit the
greater number or the taxpayers In all
sections OF the country; and
Whereas, No argument can be advanced
In FAVOR OF the annual appropriations by
congress on behalf of river and harbor
improvements that does not apply even
more strongly to the Improvement of our
public roads: therefore.
Resolved. That the national grange ia
yors general policy OF good roads con-
struction by the various municipalities
counties and states; and
Resolved. That we favor the Immediate
enactment OF Legislation by congress max
Ing liberal federal appropriations for the
| Improvement of the public highways Of
the country. these appropriations to be
expended In such manner as congress
may prescribe
House bill 1887, introduced I'm con-
gress on Jan 80, 1908. by Hon Frank
ID. Currier Of New Hampshire, which
| embodles the views of the national
grange on this subject. provides for
the creation Of national highways
| commission and for the construction.
improvement and maintenance Of pub.
lie highways. 1t differs from the nu.
merous bills on that subject now pend.
Ing before congress In that 1t provides
| for the direct expenditure OF the pro.
posed appropriation In road cOnstruc-
ton and Improvement by the national
government, acting I'm cooperation
with the state highways commission or
other authorities having supervision Of
| the public roads. The amount Of the
| appropriation stated In the bill Is $50.
! 100000. TO be made available at the
rate of $1O,OOO.OO0 a year. Of which at
least 100000 Is to be expended I'm each
state at the rate Of not less than 500.
900 annually.
| The members of the grange and the
| farmers I'm general I'm all sections Of
/ the country are vigorously demanding
the enactment OF this bill, and it is be
| lieved that II will become law I'm the
near future.
Under the provisions OF house bill
| 1887 II will be possible for the ma.
tional highways commission to apply
the appropriations provided for en- that
measure 10 the construction improve.
ment or maintenance Of any public
road In any section OF the country
since all roads connect with OF lead
Into some other road used I'm Interstate
commerce. IL is provided In the bin
that the commission shall. as far as
possible, act I'm cooperation and consul.
tatOn with the authorities having
charge Of the construction and inn
provcment Of the public highways OF
the several states. and in accordance
with this provision the distribution OF
the amounts appropriated viii boz gov
srncd by the wishes os the pcUuir or
Ehe states. acting through their public
5Oad officials. Under this policy there
will be no danger Of some roads iu cor.
tain sections Of the country receiving
more than their fair share Of the fed
iral appropriation since the people "
zach state can be- relied upon ,o 500
that their highway authorities Insist ON
the expenditure Of these APPROXIMATIONS