Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-04-27
BOOSTERS FOR GOOD ROADS
Pneumatic Tires Supplied Energy
for the Movement.
PIONEER WORK BY wHEELMEN
vevotees of the Bicycle BLAMED the
Way and Auto Owners Push
Il Alons-Progress In
Many states.

In 1893 the Maryland state legislature
created a highway division OF the geo.
logical survey for the purpose OF carry
ing on a campaign of education In road
building and to give engineering advice
and assistance to local road officials.
Money was authorized In 1904, and an
appropriation OF 10000 annually was
made to carry on the work. The state
paid one-half and the counties one-half
OF the cost of construction. The legis-
lature Of 1908 authorized the governor to
appoint three citizens and designate two
members of the geological survey who,
with the governor sx-officio. should con-
stitute a state road commission. The
commission was authorised to lay out
and construct a system OF state roads TO
be built with state money, and an appro-
priation Of $4,000 was made with which
to pay the cost. In 1910 the state aid
work of the highway division OF the
geological survey was transferred TO the
state commission Of highways.
The five states were the only ones to
adopt state aid laws In the first ten years
after New Jersey took the initial step.
In 1900, however, the automobile made its
appearance as a considerable factor In
the highway situation. and the extent Of
its influence on highway Improvement
may be judged from the fact that in the
next ten years thrty-two other states
passed laws establishing state highway
departments, great majority Of them
authorizing substantial peeuniary assist
ance of their counties or townships.
The legislature of Maine enacted law
In 1901 which created a state highway
department. In charge OF a state high
way commissioner. and authorized a tax
to provide state aid fund. The legisls
ture of Rhode Island In 1901 enacted a
law creating a state board of public
roads and establishing a system of state
roads to be built entirely at state ex-
pense.
Movement Down south.
A law enacted by the Florida leg
stature in 1905 granted TO the several
counties Of the state. In proportion to
the assessed valuation. whatever money
there may be in the internal Improvement
fund for the purpose OF contracting hard
surface roads. In the same year a law
was passed In Delaware authorizing an
appropriation of $1,000 to each county
for road improvement purposes, pro-
viding the counties appropriated q similar
amount
A State Highway department and state
aid reconstruction Of roads were also au-
thoriEed by legislative act in Pennsyl-
vania in 1903. The sum OF ss.5oo.ooo was
set aside BY that law for the purpose.
In 1911 resolution was passed author
izing the submitting TO popular vote Of
the propos ton Of a bond issue OF s0ooa.V 600
for highway purposes. At the same time
q law was passed creating q system Of
state roads to be built entirely by the
state and authorizing an appropriation
Of s4ooo.o 900. 10000 to be expended In
building the state roads and 100000 in
state aid work. whereby the state paid
three-quarters OF the cost
Ohio was made a state aid state in 1904
A highway department was also estab-
Eshed in that year. The law was amended
in 1905 and again in 1911. principally with
reference to form Of administration. The
state pays one-half the cost Of state aid
work. the counties and towns one-quarter
each. Illinois. Michigan. Minnesota and
New Hampshire adopted state aid In 1906,
Vermont and Virginia became state aid
states In 1906. In the former state a
state Highway department was created
with a commissioner in charge and an
annual appropriation for aid to the towns
was authorized. In Virginia the law es-
Established State Highway commission
with commissioner at the head Of 1t and
authorized the employment Of convict
labor as state aid to the counties. The
law was subsequently, amanded so that
money aid could be granted where con-
Wet labor was unavailable.
Activity In the West.
In 1907 state aid laws were passed In
Idaho. Missouri and Washington. The
Georgia legislature passed a state aid
law in 1905. BY It's provisions state con-