Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1913-12-19

writers. These letters have furn-
ished valuable information for con-
structive work in this field The de-
partment believes that intelligent
help to women in matters of home
management will contribute directly
to the agricultural success of the
farm. 1t purposes therefore to ask
congress for means and authority to
make more complete studies of do
mestic conditions on the farm, to ex-
pertinent with labor saving devices,
and methods, and to study complete
ly the question of practical santa
tion and hygienic protection for the
farm family.
There has been a steady move
ment for better roads during the
past 20 years, and today about 81
states have highway commissions or
some other state highway agency.
The total annual expenditure of the
states for construction and mainten-
ance of roads which ten years ago
amounted to but $4,000, 900, has
grown to $43, 100000 in 1912.
The federal government should take
the lead in investigational and ex-
perimental work, and there is need
for central agency which can furn-
ish the best information on all prob
lens of road building and mainten-
ance. Recently congress made an
appropriation of $500,00 for inn
proving post roads, expenditure to
be contingent on the appropriation
of double the amount of money by
the state or local subdivision. If
federal aid is to be further extended
in highway development, legislation
to that end should incorporate this
cooperative principal. The federal
government should deal with the
state as the lowest unit, thru an ex-
pert highway commissioner as its
agency. The plan should provide
maintenance as well as construction.
Preference should be given to the
improvement Of roads over which
the products of the farm can be TAX
en- to the nearest railway station
A scheme of road construction and
maintenance within a state should
be developed and mutually agreed
upon. Money appropriated by the
federal government should be appor-
toned on the basis of such factors
as total population, farm population
area, taxable valuation and mileage.
The national forests are being
classified to segregate lands valuable
for agriculture and to establish per.
rnanent boundaries for timber pro.
: duction and water protection. The
: earnings from timber sales and other
: sources increased $3O0,000, or IL
J per cent over 1912. The forests
/. should produce all the timber they
: can and supply the public need a
the lowest possible cost under con
ditions that protect the publ,
S against monopoly. Seventy-six wat
f er power projects have beel
n developed and thirty more are unde
n consideration. The law permitting
y only a revocable franchise should b
n changed to allow so year permi
for power purposes, under provis
d ions protecting investor and public
% Future use of the 167 millio
y acres, which does not interfere wit
le more important employment, shoul
Is be encouraged; the people shoul
r get the highest net total of recre;
t. tional and other benefit from then
IF Is, 900 special permits for variou
vs. purposes are in force, and last yea
&c over l 500, 900 visitors made recrei
t, tional use of the forests. Legisli
lg lation is needed to allow term pc
e mits for the construction of hote
Or and cottages and for certain recre
lg tional use of the forests, with saf
IL guards against damage, vandalis
he and contamination of water. III
Ies cities and towns now draw their "
ie- ter supply from these water shet
lat Adequate legal authority to pl
ng vent Watet pollution and permit 50
,rk itary regulation of watersheds
lif- sorely needed.
clip Special emphasis is laid on t
The fact that the figures for crops gu