The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1913-10-07

Detroit, Mich, Sept. 29.-David F.
Houston, secretary Of agriculture, this
afternoon delivered an address on
federal cooperation In road building
before the Good Roads convention In
session in this city. Mr.. Houston
said in part:
The suggestion of great 1ationa!
transcontinental roads appeals to ny
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 rid
ing about the country in my friends
automobiles. But that the essential
thing to be done 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 1t is obvious that the
representatives Of the people In con-
gress are like minded. For in max.
ing their appropriation they stipulst-
ed that it should be used in improv-
ing the condition of post roads with
view to the economy and efficiency
of postal delivery and for the trans
portation Of farm products to the
market. Such roads are equally es-
sential to the establishment and op.
GRAFTON Of decent elementary and Sec
ondary schools for the benefit of the
country boys and girls. | do not elm
mate other things for consideration
and | do not underestimate the rights
and pleasures of the automobilists
and the service they have rendered
in the propaganda for road building.
There are complex problems to be
solved IN many States before the
most efficient expenditure Of money
by states and communities for roads
can be secured, and there are many
more to be worked out before one can
nationally expect the federal govern.
ment largely TO participate. Who
shall say how aid should be appor-
toned so that the states may receive
equitable treatment? Shall 1t be
apportioned equally among the states
on the basis Of total population, farm
population, area, taxable valuation,
road mileage or all these, and should
federal money be expended exclusive
ly through its own agencies for
certain system? What roads are to
be improved? There are approxim-
ately two and a quarter million miles
of publicly owned roads in the ma.
ton. Half of this mileage is utilized
for post roads and less than ten per
cent of the total can be classed as
improved in any large sense. Shall
we undertake to apply aid to all the
roads or shall We consider this a
task too gigantic? Shall we apply
II to the rural routes or shall we re.
gard this as equally beyond reason?
Or shall We single out certain direc.
tons in which central roads shall run
and II so, how? Is II not clear that
this opens up field where petty pol
itics, community interest and individ.
ual selfishness may run riot? Assum-
ing that we have settled this, for
what purpose shall the aid be grant
ed and in what proportion? Shall It
be exclusively for construction, ex-
clusively for maintenance, or for
both? Shall 1t be to pay the entire
cost OF either or both OF these items
or shall It be dependent on the equal
or larger contribution by the states
and communities? Shall the aid come
through votes of money out OF the
treasury or from the sale OF bonds?
That the suggestion OF federal aid
to road building raises grave ques-
lions and involves possible dangers.
no thoughtful citizen doubts There
are proposals before the public mind
which would bankrupt the federal
treasury and suggest possible abuses
before which those OF the worst pork
barrel bills OF the past would pale
into insignificance. No proposal which
does not carry with II the assurance
Of safe guarding the treasury in this
direction seems to me TO stand the
ghost OF chance OF favorable con
sideration. 1t is not alone the fear
that there would be no stopping place
There is the question OF precedent
This is not the only proposal before
the American congress involving the
suggestion OF huge appropriations
There are others which, TO their ad.
Vocates' are Just ms important and
are being Just as mistakenly urged &.
and many OF the veteran congressmer
have naturally contracted the hah,,
OF baking automatically at such pro.
posals.
q.