Lower coast gazette., 1913-10-25
Country Roads.

The rapid increase in the good roads in the
southern states is increasing the demand for
more of the same kind and for even better ones.
The cheapening of automobiles and of auto
trucks is leading to their use wherever practic-
able and these influences are also lending their
aid to the good roads movement. The matter is
being considered in Washington and some good
roads bills are pending, but thus far the work
that has been done has been done by local tax
alton and by some state aid, the tendency being
to grant the state aid in proportion to the local
efforts made. 1t is in this way that we are now
securing our shell road in P%laquemines Parish
from Carnaervon to Pointe a Ia ,Hache, and it is
ssrsa.,s Way that mr. .i-~n hnnn4 tn nsu- al on
early date good shell roads Oh both sides OF t.,v
river.
We have been hoping that the national gov
sptnment would come forward with a proposition
so build roads under local control, the national
government giving to the road districts a given
amount Of aid, say equal to that given by the
state. In that way the state and national aid
would cover one-half the cost Of the roads and
the local people could then with eminent pro-
priety tax themselves for the cost of their half
and under any reasonable financial conditions
they can readily negotiate long time bonds for
that purpose. Unfortunately in Washington
the rampant free trade ideas and some oddities
in the way of the control of the currency OF the
nation have been dominant issues in the halls of
congress and miscellaneous legislation for the
general good has not had much development of
late. We shall hope that during the coming
regular session Of congress, which begins on
the first Monday in December, some definite
method of aid by the general government to-
ward the building of good roads will be made
the law of the land and we feel quite sure that
our people would be very quick to avail of the
relief secured in this way. Various parties
seem to have special hobbies in the way Of good
roads legislation and in order that there should
be no sectional preferences they have been adj
yocating the idea of having the general gov
eminent construct four or five highways reach
ing from the Atlantic to the Pacific right across
the country. Those who are familiar with the
early legislation of the country will recall the
fact that this was contemplated by the general
government nearly a hundred years ago when
the so-called national road began at Cumber-
land, Maryland and was actually constructed
as far as Indianapolis and the right Of way
opened all the way through to St. Louis. which
was then made the western terminal. This
national road like the old turnpikes, flourished
in the days before the railways Of the country
were at all developed and the incoming and out
going of the old stage coach lines was quite an
event in every country town. The present sug-
gestion as to having a national road seems
reasonable and logical and the government
could very properly undertake such work, but it
could get many more times such work done by
the people of the United States if it would lend
that aid to the building Of good roads wherever
the people of any district desired them and do
this along the lines hereinabove indicated and
furnish a direct assistance Of as much as the
state was willing to contribute. probably a quar-
ter of the total cost, and the state another
quarter and the district the remaining half.
Next summer we may find congress wrestling
with this road problem as it seems outside of
our currency and tariff legislation one of the
problems most earnestly pressing itself upon
public attention at the present time.