Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1910-09-22
IMPROVING
THE HIGHWAYS
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD
BEAR EXPENSE OF CON-
STRUCTION
Third Annual Good Roads Conven-
ton at st. IOuis.-Deiegates From
All Parts of the United States As
sembIe in Missouri City.

Al the Influ annual NdtlOndl
Good Roads Convention to be held in
St Louis, September % to 80, there
viii be discussed the ways and meaas
Of providing the necessary funds for
general improvement of highways
throughout the country. The consen-
sus of opinion seems to be that IN
the construction of the main travel
ed highways, or trunk lines, the ex-
pense of such should be borne in
part by Federal appropriations and
state appropriations Up to the pres
ent time no Federal appropriations
have been made for road construc-
ton. although a bureau is maintained
which furnishes advice and tests
road materials This bureau is UNI
der the direction of Logan Waller
Page. at Washington, d. c., and has
been of interest in the good roads
movement throughout the Union.
1.-The best results on trunk lines.
heretofore" states George c. Diehl.
chairman of the national convention
committee. "have been obtained
through large state appropriations
in the form of state aid to counties
and towns. It has been suggest u
that the extension of the state .i1
system TO several states in various
T rts Of the country, and the appo' It
ment of a state highway commission
ia every state. which will systemat-
ically and economically expend high
way moneys, will result in the near
future. in large Federal appropria-
tions will not be portioned and sent
TO the several states unless such
states have the organization, and all
so demonstrate the ability. to wise
ly and usefully expend such national
moneys
1.-THE most satisfactory state high
way laws have been those central
izing state highway commissions
which exercise control and authority
over all highways; exclusive, Of
course. of cities and incorporated
villages.
I'm some instances It has been
found advantageous to divide the
roads into three classes. which may
oe briefly described as state. ccun-
ty and town highways
"The state highways include all
or the main trunk lines, connecting
the different c,pters Of populat:,1
uf the srceral 90 mites. 1t is estimated
that such trunk lines would com
prise about A per cent of the total
mileage and that these should be
constructed solely at the expense OF
the state; OF, under federal govern.
ment control, at the joint expense OF
the state and the nation.
1.-The second class highways call
ed country roads should be those ar
teries Of travel which comprise tn,
main market roads Of each county
which will form a properly divided
and connecting system of COUNTY
highways. taking into consideration
their value for the purpose of com
mon traffic and travel Such high
ways should be constructed at tn,
joint expense of state. county an,
town the proportion borne by thu
county and town to be based upol
population and total valuation of tn
total mileage It is estimated tina
such highways would comprise abou
6 per cent Of the total mileage. Bot
of these classes of highways would
of necessity and be reason of tn
great amount Of travel that the
would be called upon to sustain, 20
of an expensive and durable type
The roads should be wide, with 10y
grades, but properly surfaced wit
some durable dustless material.
1.-THE remaining roads. constitn
ting about 80 per cent Of the tota
might be classed as town roads, an
the expense Of their repair and maiF
tenanee should be borne Jointly b
township and state. and all wor
should be under the control of tn
state highway commission.
There is now expended through
out the United States about $50
100000 annually in repair and mali
tenance of dirt or lateral roads. Muc
of this money is wasted by reason
its peing expended in temporary an
unnecessary work. When such woI
Of state highway commission, II
requirement could be made compu
sorry. and only one-fourth of tn
amount of money-which is amp
sufficient-need be expended for ter
norarv work. smoothing the road su