Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1913-02-06
FARMERS FAVOR FEDERAL
AID FOR BETTER ROADS

That the movement for federal par
ticfpation in highways construction ts
not confined to motorists. but is also
being agitated by the farmers, is one
of the most hopeful indications OF its
ultimate success. On this point the
recent convention of the National
Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, the
Oldest and most influentialso of the farm
ers organizations, took a decidedly
favorable stand. Hon. Oliver Wilson,
master of the National Grange, in his
annual address stated:
The public highway is q matter OK
general concern. The old idea that
the country road should be constructed
and maintained by the farmer has
disappeared. 1t is now recognized
portance to the consumer as to tho
producer, as anything that lessons
the cost of transportation is a benefit
to the consumer.
The grange stands for and advo-
Gates federal aid for road improve
ment. There can be no good reason
given why the government should not
appropriate money for the maintain
ing and the improving of the public
highway the same as for our public
water works. Seventy-five per cent OF
the product OF our country must pass
over the public highway before 1t can
be transported over our railway or
water systems. While the government
has spent millions of dollars for high
way Improvement in our foreign pos
sessions, 1t has never appropriated one
dollar to be used on the highway In
continental United States.
"The strange membership is unani-
mously in favor of congress making
suitable appropriations for highway
construction and maintenance. This
appropriation should be expended by q
national highway commission or
40 ~ vxyOy~ in, ,yo0f
similar commissions from the States.
"The legislative committee of the
National Grange should be instructed
to use all the influence of the grange
upon congress for passage of bill
appropriating q sufficient sum under
proper regulation for the improves
ment of e:sr public highways"
G. c. Raine, of Canton, Mo-, chair
man of the grange national committee
on good roads, offered a report, which
was adopted, endorsing the plan for q
system of national roads, and the leg
islative committee of the grange also
included federal aid for road improve
ment among it's recommendations.
This enthusiastic and renewed ex-
preston from the organized farmers
means much to the American Automo-
bile association. which is rapidly get
ting plans matured for the second
federal aid good roads convention at
Washington, d. c.. called for March 8
and q Particularly interesting have
been the responses of many members
of both houses OF the national con-
gress to the request of the A. A. A.
for expressions from them of their
views on the subject of national roads.
Formerly the railroads forced q
localization of the travel on high
ways because of the rapid and efficient
service which they afforded the pub
| lic,'' writes Representative William b.
| Francis, of Ohio. But it is readily
( seen that the new device which makes
| travel on these highways possible at
as high rate of speed, and almost
as efficient as railroads, brings the
necessity for a national system and
\ this is the one great thing in the
| line Of progress today"
II believe that federal aid should
contemplate cooperation with the
1 states and such concentration Of
money spent as to insure permanent
good roads. built under the super
vision of federal road experts" says
Representative Sydney Anderson, of
i Minnesota