Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-04-03
FEDERAL AID FOR
BUILDING OF ROADS
co.opERATioN SECURED IN
HOUSE AMONG ADVOCATES
OF LEGISLATION.
MONEY FOR POSTAL ROADS
AGREED UPON ~ AUTHORS
Rural Routes First to Receive Finan-
eiai Assistance From Government -
Rura! Communities Want Appropr;-
alton to Offset Rivers and Harbors
Grab At Treasury.


ton for federal aid to good roads is
by no means as remote as Is believed
in many quarters Is made clear by
recent important development on good
roads matters among house members.
The members Of the house who have
/ introduced good roads bills have con-
ferred and out Of all the measures be-
fore them, have evolved a new one
which they have agreed to support.
! This agreement IS IN writing and the
members who have introduced other
bills have signed it. The new COM
promise bill will be before the house
committee on agriculture the latter
part of this week and 1t is now be-
! lieved that it will be acted on favorably
and more than this that 1t will be
passed by the house.
The house and, indeed, congress gen.
orally is stirred up on the good roads
question as it has never been before.
Indication Of this is seen in the fact
that fifty or more bills have been in
troduced in the house in this congress.
Various bills are also pending in the
! senate. 1t is declared that If the bill
advocates of federal aid ever gets TO
the floor of the house it will carry with
a whoop.
Aid For Postal Roads.
The bill which has been agreed on
among the authors OF the various bills
provides for federal pay for good roads
which are used by the government in
the postal service on the following
Rcafo Of
For macadamized roads. $50 per mile
per year.
For roads which are surfaced $50
per mile per year.
For good dirt roads which have been
dragged $40 per mile per year.
The director of public roads OF the
department of agriculture is made the
officer to administer the proposed law
On showing that roads have been I'M
proved as indicated he Is to see that
payment is made to the proper road
authorities of the township. county OF
state responsible for the work. Pay
ment is to be made not merely FOR good
roads built in the future but for roads
already improved.
Annual Expenditures Of $13,0oo,OOO.
The bill as it stands carries no hxed
appropriation. 1t Is. Of course. not
possible to fix on the amount denndte-
~. The law will not begin to operate
for year after passage This VIII
give time to get the machinery in order
Estimates are that the annual expendi-
ture may run up TO $4,000 600.
Members of the house who want
good roads legislation have for some
time perceived that II they are to get
anywhere they must cooperate. Thls
explains; why they have conferred ana
get together on one bill.
Various causes are contributing TO
make the good roads issue more and
more alive in congress. One potent
cause is the automobile and the con-
stantly increa sing use OF the roads by
auto owners. Another cause 10 the
fact that farmers more and more
realize the value to them OF good roaos
for purposes Of transportation TO mar
ket Another cause is found In the
realization by wide awake railroad men
that better roa DIS will mean more
freight and more business.
To Offset Harbors Grab.
Another cause is the spread OF good
roads propaganda from various sources,
Including the department Of agricult-
ure, Then, again. agricultural inter-
ests IN the interior, and other interior
interests, which get nothing from the
improvements Of rivers and harbors.
are coming more and more to feel that
IL congress is going to spend millions
to improve waterway transportation
the communities that get no beneft OF
waterways must receive benefits in the
way Of good road appropriations from
the federal government. The south In
recent years has been strong for good
roads. It is an interesting fact that
both Champ Clark and Oscar Under
wood are on record for federal aid to
good roads and this will help the pros
poets of the bill in the house.
In connection with the compromise
bill referred to. 1t is interesting to note
that the department Of agriculture has
lust given out data showing that a
vast proposition the nationwide I'm
provement OF good roads Is. Secretary
Wilson shows that 100000 miles of road
| must be improved before the public