The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-06-17
WATERWAYS
AND ROADS

moore IldheS The fnfnmart
relative To Federal appropriations for
public improvements:
The waterways movement in ina
Eastern States, which has sufferaa
more or less in the matter of Federal
appropriations because OF the prenon.
derating claims Of the middle west
has an additional reason for demand.
ing continued popular suppor by rea-
son Of the creation by Congress OF
committee on roads. The ease with
which the committee on roads VS.
authorized n created and the visor
already put into the good roads move
ment raises a very important oueS-
ton with regard to Federal appropria.
ions which may give concern to de-
layed waterway projects along the Al
lantic seaboard. The good roads
movement is popular because it ap-
peals to the rural districts Of the
country. and to q certain extent *
backed by the automobiles, who give
promise Of ample demands upon the
public treasury to keep the public
roads in repair. When it was suc-
gested that Federal appropriations
for country roads was not altogether
the function Of the government as evi.
denced by the teachings Of the Jeffer.
SonianS, the answer of the good roads
advocates was hat Federal money
was appropriated for rivers and har-
bOrs n that no good reason existed
why Oad should not be similarly
treated. While there is some logic in
this reply. it is. nevertheless. true that
waterways appropriations nave been
made upon the theory that the would
promote and navigation.
and it is very difficult to determine
how one State, which might very pro-
perry look after the roads of its own
counties, could me made to payl for
the improvement Of the Mississippi
river, which traverseS many States,
or OF the port of New York. for in.
stance, which does international busi-
ness. The gOvernmen refused to
build the Erie canal, and New York
built it at the expense of the people
of New York, n yet under the new
road proposition, although New York
has paid enormously for its county
roads, it will be expected to bear its
proportion Of the expense of building
roads in every section Of the country
and perhaps under local rather than
Federal superintendent. There is no
disposition anywhere to delay the i'm
provement Of roads. Everybody ac-
knowledges the public necessity that
exists for them: but it is patent to
everyone that, if cousty roads are to
be improved at the expense Of the
Federal government, and the States
and counties are to berelieved of this
responsibility, then a new financial
burden must be assumed that will
weigh heavily upon other Federal inn
provements SUCH as the ~navigability
OF streams. The roads committee APP
pears to have in mind three methods
by which it can obtain national funds
for public roads: First, to construct
military roads; second, to construct
postal roads, which means every road
over which the postal or free rural
delivery service sends a horse or
wagon; third, interstate
DAD which. Of course. means roads
OF almost every possible description.
In the last Congress the rivers and
harbors bill was criticized very large
y. Dy the advocates Of public build
lngs, who wanted to secure appro-
priations for their respective local.
ties throughout the United States: and
II Is TO be expected that contrasts will
now De made by the good roads peo-
PIE TO snow that river and harbors
ought to wait until the roads Of the
interior OF the country are financially
cared 1or. 1t is only nothe evidence
OF the necessity for activity along the
eastern seaboard. Almost every new
proposition demand government sup
port has arisen and been taken care
OF since the Delaware and Raritan
canal was built in 1884, and yet We
are sui dong business upon that in
adequate stream. Mississippi river
appropriations for food have
grown INTO the hundreds Of millions
"lohout any marked advance in com
nierce since the completion of the
chesapeake and Delaware canal in
1879. and yet we are still begging
CihgreSS to open up the latter for the
lree use OF the people. Every food
OF the Ohio or Mississippi takes out
- me public treasury more money
IMAM would be necessary to release
from thelr commercial bondage thou
sanuS OF active business men who
need increased river or canal trans
poi'a'ioh IN the east. Now comes
the good roads propoeition which
means that we must wait a good
"hlie longer for eastern improve
hlents unless waterways advocates
get busy with their Senators and Con-
SreSsnen. 1t is a situation which in
HteS cooperation. but needs watch-
ne. J. ? MPTON