Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1913-01-01
their products by reason of such i'm.

provement.
The officials charged with the exec
ution of the law have already bestir
red themselves. Tentative plans hav,
been made to distribute the money
lequitably among the states. Eacl
state will receive about $4,000 Il
these tentative plans are followed
The law provides that the state OF
local subdivision in which the i'm
provement is made under the half
million appropriation shall furnish
double the money furnished by the
federal government. In other words
|if the states respond as they are ex
lpected to, $1,5O0,OOO will be the &C.
tual total available for road improve.
ment. The secretary OF agriculture
and postmaster-general are directed
to report results of their operations
within one year.
Doubtless it will take more than q
year to carry out the experiments in
all details. But congress wants re.
port in q year for the simple reason
that it strongly inclines to liberal ap-
preparations for road purposes. This
means congress feels that public SEN
timent will not tolerate much longer
delay.
Time was when the farmers were
about the only people demanding
good roads. That is no longer true.
The whole country has walked hp.
Every man who owns an auto or oc-
casionally rides in one, is clamoring
for Better roads. The merchants
perceive the need Of them. Agricul-
ture, commerce, Communication by
mail. all need improved roads. The
movement has become irresistible.
1t may confidently be predicted
that on the strength of the report
which will be made by the joint COM
mittee which investigates federal aid
to good roads and on the strength
of the report on experimental road
Improvement congress will soon be
making large road appropriations.
The experience Of every land is to be
drawn on. from the days Of the old
Romans with their superb military
roads down to the present time. In
formation b to be got from wherever
obtainable. The Official In immed-
late charge Of the expenditure Of the
$500. 900 for axpsriments) road i'm
pfovement Is Director Logan Walter
page of the Once Of Public Roads.
Df course. the sum OF 100000 is on
n q drop in the bucket. All that can
be done with this Is to get expert
nents in road improvement underta-
zen In every state willing to allow
.wo dollars for everyone the gem,
sral government will allow. OF the
30, 900 allotted to each state, about
$4,000 will be turned over to the
'tate for road improvement proper,
while the other $4,000 will be used
or maintenance. With the $4,000,
added to twice that amount given by
he state or local subdivision, such
is county or town, perhaps two post
roads could be put into first-class
,0ndition. Or all the money might
be expended in improving a single
route to a high stage Of perfection.
The general policy will be to repair,
smooth and improve existing roads
rather than build new ones. Howev-
sr the exact nature of the work done
and the kind of road improvement
made will vary greatly with locali-
lies. What may be necessary to make
! good road in Ohio may not do in
Texas. Availability of road improve
ment material will have much to do
with the nature Of the work.
The local authorities will select the
routes. Every governor will be 80
notified and advised in detail what
the general government stands ready
to do. Every piece of Improvement
will be under the eye Of
an experienced government road ex-
pert.
The main thing is to get congress
10 appropriating regularly and liber-
ally for road Improvement along in
telligent lines. The experiments with
the use of the half million dollar ap-
preparation. here mentioned. are ex-
pected to show clearly how best to
improve roads. Then. the actual up
building OF good highways on great
scale, with the government at Wash
ington and the states working in CO.
will follow as a fixed and
policy.