Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-07-16
GOOD ROAD CAMPAIGN
Policy of Construction Favored
by the National Grange.
GOVERNMENTS AID WANTED.
Farmers Ask For National Highway
Commission and For Federal APP
preparations 10 Improve and Main
tain Public Roadways.


ly 100000 members, has for a num-
Der of years advocated the enactment
by congress Of legislation creating q
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 it's assistance to a move
ment intended to secure the establish
ment Of a 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 a
corps of highly trained engineers plan
and direct the work of constructing
and maintaining the principal roads Of
that country.
The deplorabie 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 1T 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 gen.
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 will benefit the
greater number Of 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
vors 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 1881, introduced in con-
gress on Jan. 80, 1908, by Hon. Frank
d. Currier of New Hampshire, which
embodies the views Of the national
grange on this subject, provides for
the creation of a 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 it provides
for the direct expenditure of the pro-
posed appropriation in road construc-
ton and improvement by the national
government acting in 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 $780,
100000, to be made available at the
rate Of $10,000,0OO year, of which at
least S5OOOOO is to be expended in each
state at the rate of not less than $780,
| 600 annually.
The members of the grange and the
| farmers in general in all sections OF
the country are vigorously demanding
the enactment of this bill, and it is be-
| lieved that 1t will become law in the
near future.
Under the provisions of house bill
| 1887 it will be possible for the ma
tional highways commission to apply
| the appropriations provided for in that
measure to the construction, improve
ment or maintenance of any public
road in any section of the country
| since all roads connect with or lead
| into some other road used in interstate
commerce. 1t is provided in the bill
| that the commission shall, as far as
| possible, act in cooperation and consul
| tation with the authorities having
| charge of the construction and i'm
provement of the public highways of
| the several states, and IN accordance
with this provision the distribution OF
the amounts appropriated will be gov.
| erned by the wishes Of the people OF
| the states, acting through their public
road officials. Under this policy there
| will be no danger of some roads in GER
| tain sections of the country receiving
| more than their fair share of the fed
eraI appropriation since the people OF
each state can be relied upon TO see