The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-01-15
PROGRAM FOR FEDERAL AID
VARIOUS STATES WILL ADVo
NATIONAL GOOD ROADS CONVENTION OF
A. A. WHICH OPENS IN WASHINGTON TuEs0AY-

NEW YORK. Jan. i4.--More than
half the States have less than $4,000
IN available taxable resources to sup
port each mile Of road. according to
Chairman George C. Dief,I. Of the
National Good Roads Board Of the
American Automobile Association.
who has complied some interesting
statistics on tho subject. Mr.. fchfs
figures make 1t clear that. except In
such thickly settled States a. New
York. Rhode Island. Massachusetts
and others that have larger resources
In proportion to road mileage, few
OF the States can afford to under
take unaided any comprehensive
scheme Of road Improvement. These
figures will be brought forward at
tho Federal Aid Good Roads Conven-
ton OF the American Automobile As
sociation Mt the Hotel Raleigh,
Washington. d. c.. Tuesday and We'd
nesday, ~ arguments in favor OF as
sistanca by the Federal government
in high way Improvement.
A surprisingly large proportion OF
the members Of Congress. and 9TH
ers In public life. have placed them
selves On record In favor of Federal
aid. Among the strong supporters
Of this idea 10 Representative Oscar
w. Underwood, leader OF the major
ity In the lower House. Congress
man Underwood said recently:
There 10 no question In my mind
about the attitude that the govern
meut should take on the question
OF siding In the building of inter-
state public roads. At this time. when
~ tpm tS in, GOOD
shape. II might be inadvisable to
press the matter, but the time II not
far distant when the government Will
take the advanced stand OF giving
Federal u3d to tho building OF I'M
portAnt interstate highways. Nor Is
there any question OF tho constttu-
tional right Of the government to
give such aid. II was done in the
cAse Of the old Cumberland road,
and vas abandoned because OF the
necessities OF war. When the gov
eminent can AFFORD to make the nee
easary appropriations the system OF
Federal aid should be restored. A
more equitable tariff system would
put the treasury In better shape. and
the public might then have the adj
vantage OF Federal aid.
Moon. Of Tennessee.
Congressman John A. Moon, Of
Tennessee, chairman Of the Houec
Committee on Posfofffces and Post
Roads. strongly endorses Represen-
tativc t'nderwood's view. Mr.. Moon
says: .Ifnder certain conditions / am
absolutely In favor OF Federal aid In
tho building OF interstate public high
ways Such highways add TO the
wealth Of the nation. NJ well as to
the prosperity and happiness OF the
cittsens. Expenditures by the gov
ernment for this purpose are real
seconomy. There 10 no doubt that
appropriations by Congress would be
constitutional. When the treasury In
In shape to bear the burden. the old
system Of Federal aid should be re-
stored under conditions which | will
make plain when the subject com Is
up. Improved public Highways VIII
certainly aid the work of the Post
once Department. and add to the
3aAs Of deliveries,
Among other recent expressions on
the subject are those OF Congress
man Richard Barthoidt. OF St. Louis.
who says: II have always favored
Federal aid for the construction OF
the great national highways. heiiev.
ting appropriations for such propo-
sitions to be constitutional. a. well as
entirely proper" Senator George T..
Chamberlain. Of Oregon. who says;
There 10 no more reason why the
government Of tho United states
should not assist In the building OF
public hfghways than there 10 to pre-
vent the government from making
appropriations for the Improvement
Of the rivers and harbers OF the
uouutry. Personally favor Federal
appr0priatinns for the building of
public roads, and I think this ought
10 be done In conjunction with the
States. or with the subdivisions Of
the several States. ] have not yet
made up my mind In what proportion
the government should aid In this
work, but think the time will come
when appropriations Will be made
by Congress for this purpose. and
Thirty zone From Ohio.
Tho governors Of nearly half the
States have named delegates 10 the
Federal Aid Convention. None OF
them has named less than three. and
Governor Harmon. Of Ohio. has ap-
pointed thirty-ons to represent the
DuSkcye State Several Of the row
ornors have written expressing their
personal interest in the Federal aid
propoeal. Governor Noel. OF Missis-
sippi, writes AZ follows: Il have al
wayu taken q great deal OF inter-
ct Ia the subject Of good roads. and
heiievc that they should be built by
me State, and that assistance should
IS rendered by the Federal govern
mont Also. There y no doubt that
the automobile Industry has done
uOrs to encourage the building Of
4 reed roalh and educating the .peopla
On ma ENDJ6ct than Any otlfes one
interest"
Even outside the boundaries OF the
United states the Federal Aid Ques-
tion u q live one. Some OF the Cana
\ AiaH provinces. like many Of the
states, have found their ~.
SOURCES INADEQUATE to establish Nm.
highwAv Systems s. In
= recent letter from n. a. Mclean,
q AighEaYRs l0r I'm RT6xznG6
az Ontario, he naye: III snAy be Das -ln-