The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-07
National and State Governments
to Build Highways.
BETTERRURAL ROUTES
Good Roads Subsidy Boon for
the Farmers.
Interest in the Movement Is
Broad as the Country.

aging the permanent improvement OF
the highways in the different states
utilized for rural free delivery of the
mails. His amendment provided that
S.. 100000 be appropriated for this pur-
pose, the amount to be appropriated
to the improvement of the roads on
each rural route not to exceed one
the remainder of expense to be borne
by the state, county or township in
which the routes were located.
AS the Anthony amendment was in
the nature OF new leg1siatlon, nol
recommended by the committee. Chair
man Charles f. Scott in charge of the
hill made point of order against Its
adoption, and was sustained by the
chair.
saThere is no question" said Mr.. An
thony, m defending his amendment.
that since the creation of the office OF
public roads in the department OF ag-
riculture 1t has disseminated all over
the country information in regard 10
the Improvement of our public high
ways which has resulted in an impetus /
being given to the improvement of the |
roads in every state of the Union.
Federal Government Should Aid.
my idea is, however, that the fed |
eral government should go further thdl
merely to disseminate useful informa-
ton in regard to good roads. peHeVe
that the time has come for the federal
government actively to participate III
the great work of improving Inc pr
mary arteries of commerce, those nign-
Ways over which the farmers OF the
country transport the products of the
land from the farm to the raliroau-
One of the greatest drawbacks ana op-
stacles to the further extension anu
even maintenance of the present ruraI
free delivery service is the miserable
condition of the roads over which the
postoffice department has to SEND It's
rural carriers
1.-The constitution undoubtedly gives
the power to the federal government 10
| expend money for the permanent I'M
| provement of those public roads Whlch
are utilized by the rural free delivery
service and believe that the improve
ment of these highways all over the
country will confer even greater
blessing upon the people, not alone
| those engaged in agricultural pursuits,
but upon all our people. than will the
| expenditure of until millions OF dol
| lars for the Improvement of our rivers
and the water highways of our country.
| ''1The Improvement of the public hlgh-
| vays on the land is just as important
as the improvement OF the highways
on the water, and the plan whlch L
| would here suggest is that the govern
| nent set aside each year an aInouIi1
| of money for not less than tnaI InSh-
/ toned in my amendment to be useo 1oI
/ the purpose of cooperating with tue
| respective states, with the Cou'ltieS'
/ and with the townships for the I'M
| movement of the roads utilized by the
/ rural free delivery
! National Subsidy for Good Roads.
/ lyon can call this, If you will, ma
tionaI subsidy for good roads. nVe
in a state which contains the geo
1 eranI1ic center of the United States,
sho1,t as far as it is possible to be from
those states containing great seapofts'
, states which have great maritime inter-
ests which are now asking the 1eoera,
government for a subsidy or increased
: ocean mail pay, or whatever you may
caII it. to assist in building up the mer-
f chant marine, and 1 want to say tnat
? am heartily in favor of federal AID 1ol
this laudable work both from pusi-
ness and from patr1otlc stanoPosilIl.
2 and in return 1 believe that it would De
no more than fair for congressman o.
S those states which would receive the
D benefit of a subsidy for an increased
5 merchant marine to vote for a SUBSIDY
for the construction of good ROADS, q
2 be largely used in the great agriculture
: regions of the west and south ;.
e 9Durine the month Of December IL
: 1919 the National Good Roads associa
tion of the United States held its an
nual convention in Topeka, ran, all'
. in response to the call for this meetlni
1 in +he interest of good roads issued b.
the national association, and in re
Spouse to the proclamation ISSUED ~
/ the governor of the state OF Kansas IN
/ dorsine the movement, there assemble
a. Topeka nearly 1000 delegates iron
ali parts Of this country, from AlaskS
and from the territories as well as 1roI
/ the states and there issued from thl
1 convention resolutions IN 1aVor oI III
1 improvement of our highways
/ 1T know that the prevailing sent1meE
II in congress is perhaps opposed to feo
| eral aid in the construction OF ROADS
| the states further than the general az
II, no axiCfinC ammo
/ nriation in this bill. but l believe tina
there can be evolved a plan of partis
| federal aid and assistance winch WI
-ork in the nature of a subsidy and al
| and an incentive to the developmer
and construction of good roads all owe
/ this country which should receive Tn
| Endorsement of this house.
/ 81 have a bill pending which 1 am
hopes may be acted upon favorabIy an
| which, if it passes, will in time give
/ tha great west an object lesson in GOO
roads construction. The bill 1 speak
l provides for the construction or mil
] tary highway between Fort Leave1
| worth and Fort Riley, the two greats
| military posts in the United State
1 both of which are located In the sta
| of Kansas, 40 miles apart Large bod1
/ of troops and great quantities OF m;
l teriaI move each year back and for
1 across the country between THESE gre
1 posts.
Iet Federal Prisoners Do the Worl
cat Fort Leavenworth are locate
two great federal penitentiaries, OF
under the control Of the war depar
ment for military prisoners. and tt
L other under the control of the depar
iii rnent of Justice, for other feder
prisoners. In the course of a sho
III time the labor of all the thousands
prisoners in these institutions will
III longer be needed for the. work
which they are now engaged. that
,ofi ms
these institutions. It will then
necessary either to put these prisone
III AT work manufacturing articles
merchandise which will come in
oor,7 pofifi0T7 xx-ifF3 ho mr.