The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-08-13
ASKS S148,OO0,OOO ID BUILD ROADS Senator CullOm Is the Latest
 Convert .SUSTAINS BANkHEAD Alabama Senator Caused Amusement Three Years Ago When He Suggested the Appropriation
 of $500,O00
By WALTER HARPER

Washington. August 12.-(SpeciaL)- The introduction of a bill few days ago by Senator Cullom In the senate providing for the construction of a national highway system to cost s14S,- 900 900 emphasizes in no uncertain way the development of good roads senti- ment In this country.
 The first plea for national aid in the construction of public highways was made In the Senate on April IL 1908, by Senator John H. Bankhead of Alabama. This speech caused much mild amusement. It Is safe to say that the only man who took the speech seri- ously was Senator Bankhead and his Alabama constituents who supported him partly for his position on this is- sue. which by the way, was an issue of his own.
 MT. Bankhead, in making the first good roads speech in the Senate a lit tie more than three years ago. was ad- dressing himself to an amendment he had proposed to the House postoffice service appropriation bill The amend ment read:
 At the end of line II. page 27. in- sert the following:
 Provided further, That a sum not to exceed s500.000 of this appropria- = tion may be expended by the Post master General in cooperation with the Secretary of Agriculture in inn proving the conditions of the roads over which rural delivery routes are, or may be, hereafter established, to De selected by them for the purpose Of ascertaining the possible increase in the territory which could be served by of the number of delivery days each year, the amount required for proper maintenance in excess ai local expenditure TOT rural delivery route, and the relative saving to the government in the maintenance of rura delivery routes by reason of such im- provements;
 Provided further. That the state oi county, or counties, which may be SC. lected for improvement of rural de- livery routes therein under this pro- vision shall furnish an equal amount of money for the improvement of the rural route so selected
 MT Bankhead only asked for $500, GOO At that time, three years ago, this amount looked like a blooming eXtrav- agance-a criminal suggestion of waste | This week Senator Cullom asked foi $14S 100000 and the request is looked , upon with favor in many quarters. | Three years ago Senator Bankhe eac advanced one reason why the govern | ment should and could under the con. stitution engage In the building of gooc roads. Senator Cullom adds two nor, | good reasons. frf | Senator Culloms bill may not becom, a law, but the fact that it has beer introduced and that it has met witt favor from many high sources Is mos encouraging and gives hope that at nc | very distant day the government vii put part of it's money, brain and energ, | to the construction of good highways The development of good roads sen | timent in the last three years is won derful as well as most encouraging.
 said Senator Bankhead today.
 "I have long been of the opinion tha | the government should aid in tn,
 building of good highways for the peo pie. The construction of good, perma nent highways would be of more gen
 eral and lasting benefit to the peopl,
 than the same amount of money spen
 on waterways. The improvement of tn
 waterways is all right and well wort | all the expense. but the building o | highways is just as important
 The expenditure of $300,0O0 900 ol
 the highways of this country woul,
 be of greater benefit to the countr,
 than the building of the Panama cana
 can ever be-"