Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1912-12-13

Demand For Federal Aid and For the
Establishment Of a National Depart
ment Of Rosds-Mattsrs In Which
the Grange Is Interested.
The first annual session Of the Amer
lean road congress was held at At
lantie City in October. At no conven-
ton in this country of like nature
have there been 50 many valuable pa
pers and addresses given on so wide
a variety of topics all vital to the Inn
orovement of our highways as at this
road congress. The character of the
speakers and their high standing In
their respective states have given this
meeting the nature of a clearing house
of scientific thought on a hundred diff
ferent problems affecting the construc-
ton and maintenance of public roads.
Governor Woodrow Wilson in his ad-
dress Of welcome struck the keynote
of the congress when he declared for
federal aid in road building. The fol
lowing day Frank ID. Lyon of New
York again brought the subject TO the
| front and in outlining his plan sug-
gested that cabinet officer be made
the head OF II new roads department
and that he or his agents go into every
state and carry out a campaign OF mis-
sionary work looking toward the es-
Establishment of road departments UNI
der certain prescribed rules to fit the
particular needs of jurisdiction invad-
r -
ed by the adoption of which federal
aid would be forthcoming commensu-
rate with the extent and condition Of
the roads of that particular state. By
the allowance Of so much per mile per
year from the federal government
states already having good road sys-
TENS would have a surplus, after pay
Ing for the maintenance OF their roads,
to open up new highways. while those
which have bad highways would have
the funds necessary for the construc-
ton of better highways and in the
succeeding years money to maintain
them in proper shape. The congress
later declared Enthusiastically for federal
aid.
State legislation prohibiting any
struction OF roads unless the issue also
covered the establishment Of n depre
citation fund for the maintenance of the
particular highway was advocated by
II. w. Anderson of Richmond, Va. He
declared millions were annually wasted
by the counties because such CLAUSE
was absent from the laws permitting
the bond issues.
Employment OF convict labor in roat
building was the subject of an address
by DR.. J. Hyde Pratt. state geOlOgis
, OF North Carolina. who was followed
by Professor Il. $. Within, general see
rotary OF the national committee OIL
prison labor. DIR. Pratt expressed nm
qualified favor for prison labor on the
roads OF the country declaring that 4
would benefit not only the state, bu
the convicts. 1--WE should not los,
sight OF the fact" he said, that wheI
convict has suffered his punishment
he has paid the debt he owes society
for his transgression and should b.
welcomed back to his citizenship. fol
In the great majority of instances the
convicts are better men at the end OF
their terms than they were before be
ing sentenced. This class OF labor ha:
been employed with excellent results
on the highways of North Carolina
and we have found there through prac
teal experience that not only The
, state, but the convict. is benefited.
Dr. Pratt said that the cOnvicts shout,
be paid for their labor and that TIN
amount due them should either b'
handed them at the end Of their terms
of Imprisonment or to their relatives
and dependents. as specified by thu
men in custody
The road truck traffic. AOw in its in
fancy. but growing by leaps anC
bounds. il n new and very dangerous
menace to good highways, in the Opin
: ion OF William ID. Sohier Of Boston
speaking at the conference of the legis
lative section under the auspices of tn
American Bar association. Colonel So
hier, who Is chairman of the Massa
chusetts highway commission, declared
the state legislatures should be impor
tuned TO enact laws that would regu
late the use of the pubic roads by thi
heavy vehicular traffic. He quoted sta
: tistics to prove the strides being mad
In the introduction of the road true
for heavy traffic.
Assistant Postmaster General De
( Graw was introduced as an official VIII
o had $4,000 rural carriers in his depart
ment. who Travelled over million mile
1 of highway in a single day "Thes
2 carriers" said Mr.. DeGraw, "serv
a 20,OOOOOO people every day in the yea
at a cost to the government OF $4,000
600. If there is anything wrong wit
E your roadways in any section of tn
country tell your rural carrier about /
and he will report II to his POSTMASTER
His postmaster in turn will report il
me. and by me II will be referred I