Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-07-07
SENATOR SWANSON MAKES
Good ROADS SPEECH.
Outlines Bill He will Introduce in
Senate Giving Federal Aid for
Good Roads.


Claude A. Swanson, the junior senator
from Virginia, made y brilliant speec!
in favor or good roads. Il was the
opening announcement of the bill which
he will shortly Introduce in the Senate
extending federal aid 10 post routes.
This bill which sill carry into Gffer;
the pledges made by Tic democratic
party in its last platform, provides fOl
al annual appropriation Of $50, 900, ,00t
| for fire years. One Of the conditions
/ of the bill is that the states or local au-
thoritics shall furnish an amount equal
10 that furnished by the federal gov.
crnment. This will mean ut least
forty million year for good roads.
Senator Swanson discussed at length
! tie entire subject of good roads. In
opening his speech he referred TO our
material progress in nearly al lirec.
tons except in that Of road building.
He said
As amazing as are o,lr wonderful
achievements. it is admitted that today
We have the poorest public roads and
highways of any civilized nation. OF
the 2,155, 900 miles OF public roads
within the United States, less than 200,
900 miles are macadamzcd or i'm
proved with hari SUI faciug. Thus.
morc than uipc-tcuihs of tn" public
roads ard highways u The United
States during rainy Seasons are almost
impaSsabln. No ulhrr enlightened
people in the world are cursed "Ilh
such wrrichcd condition Our enHr-
girs aud our money have been gcncr.
ouSIy cxpcnl"i in every other direction
cxccyl in the be'tcrmrn' of our public
roads.
He discussed The roads OF the var
ious European nations and compared
the cost OF hauling freight IN those
lands with the cost in thi1 country.
On the subject 81 federal aid 20 good
roads Senator Swanson said:
The United States government now
u<cS more than 900, GOO miles oF The
public roads Of this country in carry
ing its mails oyer them, either through
its $tar-rnui" contractors 0r IFS rural
delivery carriers.
Il, uses daily thiE vast mileage Of roads
without giving to The states or com.
mun'tIcS cent OF compensation Last
yrar ;hiS government paid 70 the rail.
roads II hi, nation so. li2. 20n Ter
uSir@ ih"ir tracks 70 "arrv rs mails
oyer :h"ir roai,.
The counties and states contribute"
l!eir money for the rou>truc
;ion and maintenance of these
country roads aS much as
DE- The stockholders of the railroads for
the construction and maintenance OF
,hrir railway tracks. II it's Just and
fair that the government should pay
this vast sum u money for utilizing
the tracks OF the railroads, il is equally
a. Just and fair that the government
should contribute = fair compensation
10 HE states and communities for using
thcrr roads for the conveyance Of the
governments mail.
Another consideration which strong
Ir presents itself In my mind aS to why
this government should extend national
aid 10 road improvement is that it
would result in the saving of a great
deal u money 10 this government
| The government now cNpcmds 81, nOG.'
900 annually for rural delivery. The
average route Of 4 ruraI-dcliycry car
rier is about u miles. The carrier is
unable 10 make greater distance than
this on account oi the bad condition Of
III" public roads.
It these roads were properly I'M
proved 4 carrier could easily and with
more comfort deliver mail third
longer distance and the government
would save $S,000,0O or $4,000, 600
annually"
IN reference 10 good roads in Virginia
Senator Swanson said:
Until 1906 there Has practically no
construction OF macadam or hard-snr-
facing roads within the State OF Nir-
ginia. Though Virginia spent more
than 4 million dollars per year on her
roads. very poor results we're obtained.
As candidate FOR governor, / an
nounccd as one OF the special policies
that ! would endcavor to inaugurate,
il should be elected, state aid for the
construction OF roads.
In my inaugural address | strongly
recommended that the state should
create a highway commission and fur
nish free to the local authorities cngi-
nccrs and road builders to aid in max
ing surveys and furnish suggestions
and information in connection With the
proper building Of roads.
also recommended that the con
victs in the jailS and those in the
pcnitcntiary with short terms OF ser
vice should be furnished free 10 the
loca! authorities to worI, upon the
public roads, the state paying the cost
Of maintaining and guarding these
convictS and the counties furnishing
the material, thus sharing fairly the
expense OF construction.
The general assembly enacted these
recommendation into laws, which
were at once placed into operation.
The department OF highways proved a
great success. The local authorities
were enabled 10 get scientific engineers
TO aid ;hcm without expense, d which
they gladly aYaiIcd themselves. There
was greater demand Tor the conricts
TO be utilized for road construction
than The state could supply.
When the next general assembly
convened recommended that the state
should appropriate $3.50, 900 out Of its
treasury, conditioned upon the coun'