The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-01-24

bills have been introduced during the
present legislature, looking to federal
aid for states and counties in this i'm
portant matter. Proof Of the benefits
derived from a system of good roads
IS not wanting and the fact that the
government has not as yet taken an
active part in the enterprise is due,
not to lack of faith in it, but to skep-
ticism on the part of many members
Oh congress as to just how to get at
it. It is generally believed that fed
eral assistance will come before many
years and the pressure upon congress
men is becoming greater annually.
Meanwhile, much work is being done
IN several of the states. In some cases
the counties are doing the work
through the bond issue plan, while in
others state aid is handed to the coun-
ties. In some of the states, an appro-
priation for the building and mainten-
ance OF roads has become a part of the
regular annual budget and the number
OF states in which this is the case is
increasing. AS the movement gains
Roadway and the competition between
states increases the results of agita-
ton on the part of its most ardent en-
thusiasts become more apparent in the
increased number of miles of roads
built each year. 1t is only a question
OF a few years until the people of
every state in the Union will bow to
the extra tax required for initial ex-
pense and vote strongly for a bond is
sue or legislative aid.
1t is a mistake to argue that the
good road is a luxury. An abundance
OF examples to the contrary are avail
able. Massachusetts and New Jersey
stand as pioneers in the state aid
movement for good roads. In the for
mer state, many instances remain to
prove that the construction of substan-
tlal roads where formerly were i'm
passable mud holes has had the effect
of raising land values at least $40 per
acre. Not only this, but in many of
these districts land would not sell at
all because of the impossible condition
of the roads in spring and fall. With
the improvement of transportation ia
cilities the land along these highways
became suddenly desirable and the re-
suit was stimulus to the realty mar
ket that affected other districts as
well. Spottsylvania County in Virginia
three years ago voted 100000 bonds
for the construction of permanent
roads within the county. Upon the ad-
vice of the United States Office of pub
1 lie roads the money was so expended
as to give the county complete sys-
tenn Of excellent trunk highways. The
result was apparent at once. In two
years the agricultural and forest pro-
ducts handled by single railroad were
increased more than As per cent, the
road system rendering it possible for
the farmers to get their produce to
market more easily and quickly, with
greater profit to themselves. Outgoing
poultry, eggs, and dairy products more
than doubled in these two years, while
the increase of imports was correspond,
ingly large.
Right in the Pacific Northwest are
several examples of the great saving
to producer and shipper brought by
good roads. In 1909 fruitgrowers in
the Goodnoe Hills in eastern Washing
ton had to traverse a mountain road
for distance of seven miles to ship
ping point. The roads were so sandy
in some places that it was impossible
to haul heavy load over them, while
some Of the grades were so steep as t.
challenge the best horses of the coun
try. 1t cost the fruitgrowers 30 cent,
per hundred pounds to haul their pro
duce out and 35 cents per hundred TO
freight going back. This meant an ex
pense of 81 cents and 81 per ton pc,
| mile. The citizens of this district in