The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-07-30
GOOD ROAD CAMP A|CN
Policy of Construction Favored
by the National Grange.
GOVERNMENTS AID WANTED.

Farmers Ask For National Highway
Commission and For Federal APP |
preparations 70 Improve and Main
tain Public Roadways.
The national grunge. an organiZa-
with an aggregate membership Of near
ly 100000 members. has for Il num-
Der of years advocated the enactment
by congress of legislation creating
national highways commission and
making liberal appropriat 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
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 oil 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 us is the
improvement of our waterways aud
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 a
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 scientific policy
of road construction and improvement
for the h:iphazard methods which now
prevail to SO large an extent
The following resolutions, unani
mously adopted by the Nationa
]: grange give the point of view from
!: which the farmers regard the questio!
!; of federal aid to public road improve
! ment:
! Whereas, The improvement of the high
ways of the country is a matter of gen
! eral public concern and should properl
! receive the attention and assistance o
the national government: and.
Whereas. The revenue raised by take
paid by the people Of the country as
whole should be devoted as far as poss
BILE to purposes which will benefit tn
greater number of the taxpayers in a
sections of the country: and,
Whereas. No argument can be advance
in favor of the annual appropriations b
congress on behalf Of river and harbC
improvements that does not apply eve
more strongly to the Improvement OF OF
public roads: therefore.
Resolved That the national grange fl
vors general policy OF good roads col
structon by the various municfpalitie
counties and states; and.
Resolved That we favor the 1mmedia
enactment of legislation by congress NAL
ing liberal federal appropriations for II
improvement of the public highways
the country. these appropriations to
expended in such manner as consre
may prescribe
House bill 1881. introduced in CO.
gress on Jan. 80. 1905 by Hon. Fran
D. Currier of New Hampshire. whie
embOdies the views of the nation
grange on this subject. provides fl
the creation Of a national highwa.
commission and for the constructio
ar improvement and maintenance of pu
a. lie highways. 1t differs from the II
rs. merous bills on that subject now pen
ing before congress in that it provid
for the direct expenditure of the pr
posed appropriation in road constrr
ton and Improvement by the nation
government, acting in co-operati
with the state highways commission
other authorities having supervision
the public roads. The amount of t
appropriation stated in the bill is So
100000, to be made available at t
rate CT $1O.OOO,OOO year. Of which
III least $50O,OOO is to be expended in ca
state ut the rate Of not less than SIC
600 annually.
II The members of the grange and
farmers in general in all sections
the country are vigorously demandi
the enactment of this bill. and it is
lieved that it will become law in
near future.
Under the provisions Of house
1887 it will be possible for the
tional highways commission to ap
xas the appropriations provided for In t
ort measure to the construction. impro
ment or maintenance of any pul
ood road in any section of the coun
since all roads connect with or
;, into some other road used in interst
! commerce. 1t is provided in the
\ that the commission shall. as far
j. possible. act In cooperation and con-
tation with the authorities lav
charge Of the construction and
IN provement of the public highways
:, the several states. and in accorda
| with this provision the distribution
the amounts appropriated will be
erned by the wishes of the people
tho ~+cfoc ,ctinU fhrnurh their MI