The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-07-08
$50. ooo. 600 FOR HIGHWAYS!

S2o,oo0,o 900 FOR HIGHWAYS!
Senator Swanson proposes to introduce bill
In the United States Senate authorizing the an
nuai appropriation for five years Of s2o,o0o,o00,
to improve the post roads and rural delivery
routes used by the government He limits the
appropriation TO these highways for two rea-
sens: First. because limiting thu appropriation
TO such roads removes any constitutional obiec-
ton that might be urged. Second, because these
roads, than 100000 miles OF which are
traversed daily in the rural distribution Of the
mail. were the main highways and the most gem
orally travelled in the country
L. Kil he remembered that Senator simmons
has recently introduced resolution 10 appro
pirate Tor the same purpose s1,o00,00o on the
part of the national government, upon condition
that the States appropriate a like amount And
he proposes to raise this additional revenue by
imposing "A tax Of ten dollars upon each automo-3
bile seeking the privilege Of interstate travel
Senator Swausons scheme is much more COM
prehensye and much more desirable. II
thorizes the employment of sufficient capital to
produce great and widespread results In the Inn
provement and construction of highways and.
by extending the period Of appropriation to five
years. the opportunity is created of intelli-
gent and well-dehned scheme of highway con-
struetion
1t is high time the government gave greater
consideration to the comfort and welfare Of its
rural population. 1t has rushed to the assist
ance of railroads and has encouraged their pro-
motion by the gift of millions of acres of land.
Improvement OF rivers and hArhors, IT, has
erected monuments to its generosity In the con-
struction of great buildings in the cities. These
things should have been done, but the other
should not have been left undone The country
residents pay their proper proportion OF taxes.
bear their just share of the burdens Of govern
ment, and contribute most largely to the gen
eral prosperity and wealth of the nation. Now
that the opportunity presents itself TO make ap-
preparations for the direct benefit, In every way
OF the farmer and his family, 1T is hoped that
the government will give the proposition the
consideration it deserves
IA comparison with other countries. the Unit
ed States is said to have the poorest raods in the
world. OF course the fact of comparative
youthfulness as nation to some extent explains
why France and Germany and Britain with
their centuries OF development. outstrip us in
this respect But We are old enough. and in the
years OF history have accumulated sufficient
wealth, 10 make serious. If beated, start in
the building of highways The passage of Sen
ator Swanson's bill will give us. In few years
a million miles Of hard surfaced welldrainod
easly-travelled roads. where have only
200, 900 miles.
The project is vltai1f rala}ed 10 The social, In
tefectual. moral and material progress OF this
country. and jist vitality related To the rec4a
NATION and cultivation of thousands of acres oil
lands lying untitled. The successful com
petion of this plan will mark saving of mil
lions OF dollars TO the farmer over the present
cost of transportation, and viii prove a wealth
producing expeditient upon the part of the gov
eminent, in that It vii I'LL many fields now 10 e
with harvest hands and open markets to crops
and encourage crops for markets, whers the
market has hitherto been Inaccessible ard the
growing OF the crop Improbable, oecause of the
cost and difficulties OF carrying
The reading OF Senator Swanson's speech de-
hvered on yesterday, and a careful consideration
OF its argument will convince that the appropri-
alton Is meritorious and will. trust, occasion
an healthy public sentiment In behalf of the
bill