The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-12-26
OF INTEREST TO MOTORISTS
A GOOD ROADS BILL MAY
MAY PASSAT SHORT SESSION
Advocates of Measure See Hope in
Bill Getting Through Congress
Though Recent Presidential Mes
sage Ignored 1t

While the national legislative pro-
gram as sets forth in the presidential
message did not contain any reference
to highways, it is not imprOoaDie tla;
a good roads bill will be passed at the
short winter session of Congress.
Recently the governors of Southern
and Western States sent the Following
telegram to President Wilson: We
most earnestly urge that Congress make
good the Baltimore pledge and pass a
good roads bill at the winter session.
Public sentiment overwhelmingly de-
mands it, and will sustain you in urg-
ing upon Congress we'll directed feder-
al cooperation in road construction
and maintenance.
Prominent in the Atlanta Good
Roads CONGRESS among the advocates
for federal aid was DR.. 5. NJ. Johnson,
of Roswell n. NJ. In his address DIR.
johnson made it very Gear that, while
those sections dstinctively agricultural
required for their development the
market road, gully one half of the ma
tional domain was not predominantly
agricultural, but devoted to mining,
the raising of live stock, or industries
related to the presence of the health
seeker, the tourist, the leisure class,
and that through routes of travel were
as vital to the development of the non,
agricultural regions as the community
road was to the agricultural areas. The
convention was fully convinced that
the point was we'll taken and so declar-
ed in the resolutions unanimously
adopted
DR.. johnson resided for several
wears in North Carolina before remov-
ing to New Mexico, and conference;
which he has had during the past fort
night with Senators Simmons and
Overman, of North Carolina, and Gov
ernor Craig, causes him to believe fed
eral roads legislation is possible at the
short session. Governor Craig feels
that there is nothing more important
than the betterment of the roads. and
he quickly secured the several govern.
ors to join him in kilograms to Presi-
dent Wilson.
DR.. Johnson is now in Washington.
ID. C., and in a conference with Senator
simmons who is chairman of the Sen.
ate finance committee, he suggested
that provision be made at this session
for Congress to continue and enlarge
the work the government has been do
ing for experimental roads. by making
an appropriation of 100000 for ex-
perlmental post-roads and an addition
al $?OO,00O for roads across forest and
indian reservations and other federal
lzed areas where such links form parts
or established routes of travel. Senator
simmons gave his hearty endorsement
10 the proposal. 1t is unnecessary to sav
that Senators Fail and Catron. of New
Mexico, are favorable to the plan.
DIR. Johnson in commenting upon the
situation said; ''It would seem there
tore that so simple and sensible a
proposition ought to meet the approval
OF Congress, the President. and the
country at large. To refuse to provide
TOR the continuance of the work which
the government has already undertaken
ana which has been crowned with so.
nal success, the building of expert
mental post-roads, would seem verv I'M.
WISE. lnasmuch as tentative work is
pointing the way to the solution of the
general problem. To provide for the
eAtehSion OF the work along the line
indlcated seems reasonable. in view of
the Iact that in many instances. not
only through routes of travel, and also
market roads lie across federalized
ton" 'o'o"iN"'
Another. fact to which DR.. johnson
Galis attention is that even in Char
iotte, y. C., the county seat of Meek.
lenburg county, which was the comfy
cited at the Atlanta Congress as
typical of the value os the mark ;
roads. the sentiment is very strong
ana msistent for the throu.h routes
OF travel as well from Washington to
richmond, to Savannah and Jackson.
Vllle, Atlanta. and New Orleans Cb,r.
iotte is making strenuous efforts 70
iink up with other North Carolina
cehtefs' and also with South Carolina
and Georgia. adv : 9