Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-29
nation AND STATE
i;ROAD BUILDING
Plea for Co. Operation, by Sec
retary Houston Of Depart
ment of Agriculture.
AN AID TO CROP MOVING
FROM FARMING DISTRICTS
Address Before the Congress Of High
way Promoters in Session at
Detroit, Mich.

DETROIT, Mich, September 9.-An ad-
dress by Secretary Houston of the United
states Department of Agriculture was
the principal feature on the program of
the first days session OF the third annu al
American Road Congress, which began
six-day convention in Detroit today.
A. w. Campbell, deputy minister Of rail-
ways and canals Of Canada, was among
the speakers on the days program.
1t Is estimated 5000 delegates. including
scores of men Of national prominence,
have arrived in the city for the meeting
In connection with the convention, road
building machinery and models of high
ways depicting the stages OF progress in
road construction since the time of the
Roman era are on exhibition.
Secretary Houston's Address.
In tie course Of his address Secretary
Houston said:
II am not here to try to convince you
of the necessity for good roads or of their
economic and social advantages This
would be wasteful and ridiculous excess
''You know, Of course, that the Depart
ment of Agriculture has been directly
concerned in good roads for many years,
and since 1893 has been actively engaged
in investigative and educational good
roads work. The first appropriation made
for this purpose was the exceedingly
modest one of $4,000. the bill directing
the Secretary of Agriculture to investi-
gate systems of road management
throughout the United States. This re-
suited in the esta tablishment of the Office
Of road inquiry, whose scope and field
of usefulness has been broadened until
the department has somewhat compre-
hensive organization, known as the of
flee of public roads.
Half Million Appropriated.
Recently Congress took step of great
Importance and significance. Under con-
ditions specified it made an appropriation
of half million dollars to be expended
by the Secretary of Agriculture in coop
Grafton with the Postmaster General In
improving the condition of roads to be
selected by them over which rural de-
livery is or may hereafter be established,
and provided that such improvements
should be made under the supervision OF
the Secretary of Agriculture. 1t MADE
this appropriation contingent on the ap-
preparation by the state or the local SUBJ
division thereof in which such improve
ment was to be made OF double the
amount Of money for such improvement.
AS the regular appropriation for the Of
fee of public roads Is approximately $:HO,
600, it will be seen that the Department
of Agriculture has been charged with the
supervision of an expenditure for roads
of about one and three-Quarter million
dollars.
TT is estimated that aside from fed
eral and state appropriations there
was expended locally in 1912 over
$175.000.00O. and quite significantly IT
is also estimated that from 20 to 40
per cent of this local expenditure was,
relatively speaking, wasted.
Gratifying Progress Noted.
Progress in the last decade is graft
flying. 1t is not singular that this
activity should not have been wit
messed In the preceding decades. Up
to comparatively short time ago the
people of this nation were pioneering
the continent. They were primarily
forces, in establishing the Union, and
in insuring that 1t should not perish
from the earth The history Of new
nation epitomizes that Of the race
THE notion that government is es-
sentially cooperation is now fastening
itself in the public mind. and the con-
vfction grows that things of vast eco
nomic and social Importance can be
done through community agencies with
great saving of waste and with ade-
quate efficiency.
mo one questions that the states
and the localities should largely con-
tribute to the support of roads. and
take 1t in view of the state of mind of
the public. as expressed through it's
unofficial as well as it's official chan
nels, and through concrete legislation,
that discussion Of the wisdom Of fed
eral announcement and aid would be
merely academic The main questioER
for consideration are questions of the
extent and character of such aid. and
Of methods and machinery, federal.
state or local
Real Purpose in View.
1.-The suggestion Of great national
transcontinental 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 pleas
ure that l experience in riding about
the country in my friends automobiles.
is the providing of good roads which
shall get products from the community
farms to the nearest station and make
rural life more profitable, comfortable
and pleasurable. ! entertain no sort
of doubt. and it is obvious that the rep
resentatives of the people in Congress
are like minded.
There may be those who will view
with alarm any suggestion that the
federal government cooperate with the
states financially in road building. and
more especially that 1t exercise an
adequate measure of control and super
vision even over the expenditure Of its
| own funds. The cry Of GENERALIZATION
| that the federal government aims un-
duly to extend its powers-may again
be raised. Yet. in a field of common
| interest and of inseparable activities
| what could be more natural than CO.
operation and mutual assistance?
Believes People Will Approve.
I'm short, as a practical program, I be-
| lieve that this matter is one In which,
haste can best be slowly made. The
people will sanction a reasonable ex-
penditure of their money when they are
| convinced that 1t is applied to a wise
purpose and will yield the results antici-
pated. And / am impressed by the Wis
dom of the action Of Congress, in the
midst of so much clamor. in constituting
| a committee to make inquiry into the
| subject of federal aid In the construction
of post roads, in providing an appropria-
ZION of a half million dollars to be ex-
pended comparatively with the states in