Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1913-10-11
SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE
GOOD ROADS PROJECT.
Outlines to the Good Roads Conven-
ton the Problems Which Must
Be Solved in Developing the
Roads of the Country.

Detroit, Michigan, Sept. 29.-David
+. Houston, Secretary OF Agriculture,
this afternoon delivered an address
on Federal cooperation IN road build
ing before the Good Roads ConVen-
ton in session in this city. Mr.. tiou-
ston said in part:
The suggestion of great national
transcont1nental roads appeals to my
magma ton, as does the suggestion
OF interstate roads connecting cap
itals or cities OF commercial import
ance to my logical faculty and to the
sense of pleasure that 1 experience
in riding about the country IN my
friends automobiles. But that the es-
sential thing to be done is the pro-
viding OF good roads which shall get
products from the community farms
to the nearest station and make rural
life more profitable, comfortable and
plcasurable, | entertain no sort OF
doubt, and it is obvious that the rep
sentatives of the people in Congress
are like minded. For in making their
appropriation they stipulated that 1t
should be used in improving the con-
dition of post roads with a view to
the economy and efficiency OF postal
delivery and for the transportation
of farm products to the market. such
roads are equally essential to the es-
adjustment and operation OF decent
elementary and secondary schools Tor
the benefit OF the country boys and
girls. | do not eliminate other things
for consideration and do not un-
derestimate 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 secure, and there are many more
to be worked out before one can ra-
tionally expect the Federal govern
ment largely to participate who shall
say how aid should be apportioned so
that the States may receive equitable
treatment? Shall it be apportioned
equally among the States on the ba-
sis of total population, farm popula-
ton, area, taxable valuation, road
mileage, or all these; and should red
eral money be expended exclusively
through its own agencies tor certain
system2 What roads are to be I'M
proved? There are approximately two
and a quarter million miles OF pubhcly
owned roads in the nation Hall OF
this mileage is utiliZedsior post roads
and less than ten per cent OF the TO-
tai can be classed as improved IN any
large sense Shall we undertake to
apply aid to all the roads or shall
we consider this task too gigantic:
Shall we apply it to the rural routs
or shall we regard this as equally be-
yond reason9 Or shall we single out
certain directions in which central
roads shall run. and if so how Is 1t
not clear that this opens up held
where petty politics, community inter
est and individual selhshness may run
riot? Assuming that we have settled
this, for what purpose shall the aid
be granted and in what proportion:
Shall il be exclusively Tor construc-
ton, exclusively for maintenance, or
for both? Shall it be to pay the en-
tire cost of either or both OF these
items. or shall it be dependent on the
equal or larger contributions 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-
tons 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
insignihcance No proposal which
does not carry with it the assurance
OF safeguarding the treasury in this
direction seems to me to stand the
ghost of a 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
suggestions of huge appropriations
There are others which. to their adj
vocates. are just as important and
are being insistentlv urged: and many
of the veteran Congressman have
naturally contracted the habit o.
baking automatically at such pro
posals.
1t would be especially pernicious i
such an should result III SunlnR INT
spirit of local self-help. In this helc
as in others, the States have re
Gently made great Roadway. and any
action taken should unuuestionaablN
result in the fostering of this spiri
and in the efficient direction Of thu
activities to which il NAV lead.
Another difficulty to be avoided i
the over decentralization OF activity il
these intimate internal matters anc
the brilding W % Great and now
erful bureau in Washington, with al
eyer-increasing control over the high
WAYS of the country The dictates o
rrudence a~d experience are that s,
far as possible such agencies as ma
be required should he efficiently DE
,."io~nd IN the several States and thu
the Federal agencies should work i
er;r't of complete and helpful CO
operation and assistance
The first practical essentials in ~
planning of road legislation woul