The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1913-12-11
FEDERAL ROAD POLICIES

There has been steady movement
for better roads during the past 20
years, and today about "a states have
highway commissions or some othe1
state highway agency. The total
annual expenditure Of the states for
construction and maintenance of roads
which ten years ago amounted to but
$4,000, 900, has grown to $43,0000O0 in
1912. The Federal Government should
take tho lead in investigational and
experimental work, and there is need
for central agency which can furp
ish the best information On all prob
lens of road building and mainten
ance. Recently Congress made an
appropriation of 100000 for improy
ing post roads, expenditure to be con
tingent on the appropriation of double
the amount of money by the state or
local subdivision. If Federal aid il
to be further extended in highway de.
velopment, legislation to that END
should incorporate this cooperative
principle. The Federal Government
should deal with the State as the
lowest unit, through an expert high
way commissioner as its agency The
plan should provide for maintenance
as well as construction. Preference
should be given to the improvement
of roads over which products from
the farms can be taken to the near
est railway station. A scheme OF
road cons ruction and maintenance
within q state should be developed
and mutually agreed upon. Money
appropriated by the Federal Govern
ment should be apportioned on the
basis of such factors as total popula'
ton, farm population, area. taxable
valuation, and mileage
Power and Recreationai Permits
The National Forests are being
classified to segregate lands valuable
for agriculture and to establish per
manent boundaries for timber pro
duction and water protection. Inc
earnings from timber sales and other
sources increased 100000, or Is pei
cent over 1912. The forests should
produce all the timber they can and
supply the public need at the lowest
possible cost under conditions that pro
tact tho public against monopoly.
Seyenty-six water-power projects
have been developed and thirty more
are under consideration. The law
permitting only revocable franchise
should be changed to allow 5O-year
permit for power purposes, under
provisions protecting investor and
the public,
Future use of the 1877 million acres.
which docs not interfera with moro
important employment, should be en-
couraged. The people should get the
highest net total Of recrcational and
other benefit from them. $4,000 spe-
cial permits for various purposes are
in force, and last year over 100000
visitors made recreational use CT the
forests, Legislation is needed to al
low term permits for the construction
OF hotels and cottages and for Ger
tain recreatipnal use of the forests
with safeguards against damage. van
dalism and contamination of water.
1900 cities and towns now draw their
water supply from these watersheds
ADEQUATE legal authority to prevent
water pollution and permit sanitary
regulation OF watersheds is soreiy
needed.
The Crop Outlook
Special emphasis is laid on the
fact that the figures for crops quoted
are estimates. and it is pointed out
that this fact should be constantly
kept in mind. From the estimates at
hand it appears that the production
of crops in 1913 was materially be-
low the average. the yield per acre