The Mena weekly star., 1913-02-27
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It is a question which is slowly but surely forcing itself upon the national legislature. Many senators and representatives now believe that the building of system of na- tional highways is of more economic importance than-any other public work-more vital than the question of a large navy, more useful than any river and harbor improvement, more necessary than the Panama canal For highways are built and owned by the people and are free to all the people. A few years ago road bills had short shrift in con- gress-at present there are nearly hundred bills before congress dealing with road building in one form or another.
 Although the good roads" idea has been gathering force and head way for many years, it's advocates are still pulling in many directions. Some road associations want state highways with national aid. Others want state highways without na- tional aid. Still others want good roads paid for by the counties through which they pass, without any aid. One, at least, believes firmly that the question is not only one for state, counties, cities and towns, but for the nation.
 The National Highway Association believes that the beginning of a comprehensive good roads system for the nation must be made by the federal government.
 Roads Breed Roads.
 It is universal experience that one mile of good road breeds another mile. Put a statewide good road down anywhere in this country, and in ten years there will be dozens of good roads reaching it from all parts of the state. Put down a sys- tenn of national highways, built and maintained by the national govern ment, and the various state legis- lature and county officials would soon see the advantages of con- meeting all parts of the states with those national roads.
 There are two million miles of roads in the United States. The fifty thousand miles of highway now planned is but a fraction over two per cent of this mileage. But inn prove these fifty thousand miles in to good roads and keep them good roads by proper maintenance, and fifty thousand miles more would grow almost over night, and then another fifty thousand and another and another, until our great coun- try, with it's huge territory, would be crossed and recrossed with good roads, as France is today.
 Building the System.
 To build such a system complete will take mans lifetime and a huge amount of money. If the wealth of the world were ready to build this system tomorrow, it NOulu Sllll lake many years, De- cause there are available neither engineers or knowledge enough to do it quickly.
 When this, or a similar system of national highways is built-and built it surely will be some day-it will be by national highway com mission. which first locates and then :! builds, one or more roads at time. learning as it builds. When this huge amount of money is spent-as spent it is bound to be-it will be gradually and through. an annual appropriation.
 If New York state can afford five millions year for good road build ing, is it unreasonable to suppose the United States government can afford ten times as much-or fifty millions a year?
 Think it over. Study it ard see how it will affect you and your home. If you have any suggestions to make or criticisms to offer, the National Highways Association would like to hear them.