Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1911-02-17
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ter, eggs, vegetables ETC., and also
would beniiit the public health by
reason of Il fresh supply of such ar
ticles daily.
However great the money value
of good roads, the educational, social
and religious advantages are much
creator. 1t is correct principle of tax
alton that the peoplee and property
benefi ted, should bear portion of the
bun den There is no question that the
cities benefit from good roads and
should pay part of the cost of mainte-
nance and construction. This principle
is recognized in many localities, par
ticularsy in the Eastern States, where
State aid and county aid highway
laws have been adopted and where
large appropriations have been made
to carry out such laws. In some
counties the division of city and farm
values is such that tolerable fair
apportionment of road cost could be
made through the county aid law. In
other counties this impracticable. In
some States, containing wealthy and
populous cities, State good roads
laws equitably divide the cost of
highway improvement and construc-
tion between urban and rural locali-
ties, but just as there exists in
wealthy States poor counties and poor
towns which need aid in road build
ing, so there are many poorer States
which need Federal aid in highway
improvement-States which do not
contain populous and wealthy cities,
and States where State aid law
would not properly proportion the ex-
pense between the urban and rural To-
calities.
The principle of all coutny, State
and Federal aid statutes is to divide
the expenses fairly between the coun-
try and the city. Improved highway
in the Western wheat field benefit to
certain extent the cities of New
York and Philadelphia and other
Eastern cities, and Federal aid for
road building is urged in order that
comprehensive and adeqate system of
improved highways, which would
bring forth a proper internal develop
ment of the country might be tried
out Systematically, equitably and
quickly. Of the 1000, 600 miles of
roads in the United States only seven
per cent are said to be improved.
The benefit of good roads and the
desirability of comprehensive State
laws in the several States, as we'll as
Federal aid laws, is becoming quite
generally understood. National good
road organizations have been formed
and bills introduced into Congress.
Thirty-two States have enacted some
form of State aid road legislation ;
comparatively few, however, have
been able to make suitable appropri-
ations. The key to the entire situa-
ton is Federal aid in road building
This is sure to come but probably not
until one or both of the great politi-
cal parties seriously and actively ad.
vocate such legislation. Federal aid
means that every State in the country
will be forced by public sentiment,
to avail itself of the appropriations
made by Congress and enact suitable
legislation, appointing competent
, highway officials and making liberal
road appropriations. 1t is conceded
that it may take several years to get
such results, but the sooner the start
is made the more quickly results can
be obtained. The party which first
, brings about Governmental appro-
, priation will have the most popular
> issue ever presented to the American
, people. Everywhere good roads are
advocated and highway improvements
urged. The people are alive to the
Importance of the movement and real.
!, lied the many advantages which &C,
|, cure to the city and country, and they
will support the party which will adj
!. vocate the good roads cause.
Writtn by George Diehi, C. E., il
the National Monthly,