Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1908-06-17

Farmers Ask For National Highway
Commission and For Federal APP
preparations 70 improve and Main.
tain Public Roadways.
The national grange. an organiza-
ton Of farmers in twenty-seven states,
with an aggregate membership Of near
~ 100000 members. has for a num-
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-
fected plans for conducting a wide
spread, systematic. educational cam
paign for the purpose of showing the
urgent necessity for the adoption of a
broad, comprehensive policy of public
highway improvement by the various
township, county and state authori-
ties and to induce the national govern
ment to lend its assistance to a move
ment intended to secure the establish
ment of complete system of properly
constructed roads in all sections of the
United States.
1t is cOntended 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 and
that the work of the proposed national
highways commission would greatly
stimulate the construction of better
roads by the various states, counties
and townships The splendid road sys-
tenn 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
corps Of highly trained engineers plan
and direct the work of constructing
and maintaining the principal roads of |
that country.
The deplorable condition of most of |
the roads in the United States, prob
ably the worst in any civilized coun-
try, Is generally recognized, and it 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 a scientific policy
of 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 Of the country is a matter of gem
eral public concern and should properly
receive the attention and assistance OF
the national government; and,
Whereas. The revenue raised by taxes
paid by the people Of the country as a
whole should be devoted as far as posi-
BILE to purposes which Wilt benefit the
greater number Of the taxpayers in all
sections Of the country; and.
Whereas. No argument can be advanced
N 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
'ors a general policy of good roads con-
Itruction by the various municipalities.
counties and states; and
Resolved, That we favor the immediate
nactment OF legislation by congress MAX
ng liberal federal appropriations for the
Improvement of the public highways of
he country. these appropriations to be
expended In such manner as congress
nay prescribe
House bill 1887, introduced in con-
ress on Jan. 80. 1905 by Hon Frank
}. Currier of New Hampshire, which
the views of the national
range ON this subject. provides for
commission and for the construction,
Improvement and maintenance of pub
C highways. II differs from the nu- l
ferrous bills on that subject now pend .
lg before congress in that it provides :
)r the direct expenditure of the pro- !,
osed appropriation in road construc-
on and improvement by the national
)vernment acting in cooperation
18th the state highways commission or y
her authorities having supervision of
e public roads. The amount of the
stated in the bill is $780,
10000. to be made available at the
tie Of S10,0O0,000 a year, of which at "
asst 100000 is to be expended in each
ate at the rate of not less than $780,
% annually. IA
The members of the grange and the til
rmers in general in all sections OF eli
e country are vigorously demanding fe
e enactment of this bill, and it is be- tic
we'd that 1t will become law in the op
ar future. tn
Under the provisions of house bill co
,S37 1t will be possible for the ma bu
nal highways. commission to- apply
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