Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-06-12
GEORGIA IN LINE
FOR ROADS BILL
Rural Sections Hope Gordon
Lees Efforts for Measure
viii Meet Success.

very great deal of interest is felt
throughout Georgia, particularly in the
rural sections. in bill now before the
United States senate. after having
passed the house by tremendous ma
1ority which has for its object the
promotion of good roads construction
through Federal rental of the same for
rural mail delivery purposes.
This bill, which is pending as rider
to the postoffice appropriation bill and.
therefore, is more than likely to pass,
is the compromise consolidation Aof
several bills introduced in congress for
the encouragement of good roads build
ing and was reported to the house by
the agricultural committee as a com
~mittee measure.
Gordon Lee representative from the
Seventh Georgia congressional district,
who is a member of the agricultural
committee, was one of the leaders in
the fight to get this bill through the
committee and through the house. Mr..
Lee made a speech on the floor of the
house in favor of the measure, which
attracted widespread attention.
What the Bill Provides.
Stripped of its technical terms the
bill provides that any county in any
state of the Union wherein rural or
star mail routes are maintained may
build roads of a specified kind, and rent
them to the Federal government for use
OF the mail service. at from SIS to $25
per mile per annum. if it so elects.
Counties able and so desiring may
build these roads, under the provisions
Of the contemplated law. and thereby
find for themselves good investments.
providing a direct financial return, or
they may build them through bond is
sues and depend upon the Federal rent
ais to pay the interest thereon.
The roads thus rented by the gov
eminent for the mail service would be
open, of course. to the general public.
AS matter of fact government de-
iveres would rarely be made over
these roads more than twice a day, six
days to the week.
To Encourage Good Roads.
The primary purpose Of this bin is
to encourage the construction of good
roads everywhere throughout the
Union in such wise as the Federal gov
eminent may.
Many bills have been introduced in
congress looking to Federal aid in the
matter of good roads construction, but
congress has invariably found it diff
cult to get around the legal obstruc-
tions standing between congress and
it's desires This bill, the committee on
agriculture thinks, meets every legal
objection and is framed to bear evenly
and indiScriminately throughout the
entire United States.
The committee on agriculture be-
lieves that this measure. While frankly
put forward to encourage good roads
construction may be depended upon if
generally adopted, to increase largely
the use of the rural mail service every
where. Eventually at least. the com
nnittee thinks. the general construction
of roads under the provisions of this
bill will prove to be financially profita -
BILE TO the government, because of the
extension of the mail service. And in
the meantime 1t will be of vast benefit
and help to the people. particularly
the farmers and agricultural part of
the population, because OF the much
better roads that viii be constructed
under its provisions
Congressman Lee gives it as his
opinion that this bill undoubtedly will
be enacted into law by the present
congress, and that the president will
sign it promptly.