The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1913-10-29
FARMERS' ROADS
SHOULD Be FIRST
So Says Secretary Houston In
Address at Ce!cit
GOOD WORD FOR AuTOISTS.

Cabinet Member Declares That High.
ways to Carry Crops to Market Are
Needed lmperatively - Favors Co.
operation Between Nation and States
as the Fairest Plan.
Secretary of Agriculture Houston In
an address before the American road
congress at Detroit expressed his APP
prevail Of the efforts of the organiza-
ton and explained the interest of the
federal government with reference to
road building. He urged good roads
for the farmer in preference to great
transcontinental highways for auto
mobilists, and at the same time he said
he did not underestimate the valuable
service rendered by automobiles In
the propaganda for road building.
1.-The suggestion of great national
tr~anscontinental roads appeals to my
Imagination. as does the suggestion Of
interstate roads connecting capitals or
cities of commercial importance to my
logical faculty and to the sense Of
pleasure that ! experience in riding
about the country in my friends auto
mobiles" he said. But that the es-
sential thing to he done is the provid-
Ing Of good roads which shall get prod
ucts from the community farms to the
nearest station and make rural life
more profitable, comfortable, pleasur-
able. l entertain no sort of doubt, and
it is obvious that the representatives
of the people in congress are like
minded. for in making their recent mp
preparation Of 100000 for good roads
they stipulated that it should be used
in improving the condition Of post
roads with n view to the economy and
efficiency of postal delivery and for the
transportation of farm products to the
market.
Roads Essential For Schools.
"Such roads are equally essential to
the establishment and operation of de.
cent elementary and secondary schools
for the benefit Of the country boys and
girls. l do not eliminate other things
from consideration, and l do not un'
derestimate the rights and pleasures OF
automobiles and the service they
have rendered in the propagation fol
road building.
THAT the suggestion of federal aid
to road building raises grave ":tStions
and involves possible d.. -.s NJ
thoughtful citizen doubts. There ar
proposals before the public mint
which would bankrupt the fedora
treasury and suggest possible abuses
before which those Of the worst porl
barrel bills of the past would pale int
insigniicance. No proposal which doe
not carry with it the assurance OF safe
guarding the treasury in this direction
seems to me to stand the ghost of
chance Of federal consideration.
"The first practical essentials In tn
planning Of road legislation woul
seem to be to recognize the states Il
the smallest unit with which the fec
eral government might deal. TIL
would be a relief from the insistent d.
mand that would come from ever
township and every district in the VI
ion for it's share Of the state or feeders
assistance without reference to tn
practicability Of the undertaking.
States Should Have Selection.
ut would seem that the basic featul
would be such cooperation betwee
the states and federal government
would leave with the states the initit
tive in the selection of roads to r
ceive aid and as much Of the immed
ate construction and maintenance
would be practicable.
at is also reasonably clear tn
there must be some automatic chez
upon the demands to be made upc
congress and that this should be q
forded through the requirement tn
the states and the localities shou
contribute an amount both for co
struction and maintenance at lea
equal to and possibly double that co
tributed by the federal government.