Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-03
GOOD ROADS BILL MAY
BE PASSED BY CONGRESS
Governors OF Southern and Western
states Urge COnEresS to Make
Good Baltimore Pledge

While the national Legislative pro-
message did not contain any reference
to highways. 1t Is not Improbable that
n good roads bill will be passed at
the short winter session of Congress.
Recently the Governors and South
ern and Western States sent the follow
Ing telegram to President Wilson:
we most earnestly urge that Con-
gress make good the Baltimore pledge,
and pass good roads bill at the
winter session. Public sentiment over
"neimingiy demands 1t, and will sus-
tam you In urging upon Congress we'll
directed Federal cooperation In road
construction and maintenance"
prominent In the Atlanta Good Roads
Congress among the advocates for Fed
eral aid was DR.. S. NJ Johnson, Of
Roswell, n. NJ. In his address Dr. John
son made II very clear that, while
those sections dlstinctively agrlcul-
tural, required for their development
the market road. fully one-half OF the
national domain was not predomina mt =
~ 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
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 declared In the resolutions unani-
mously adopted.
Or. johnson resided for several wears
In North Carolina before removing to
New Mexico. and conferences which he
mas had during the past fortnight with
senator's Simmons and Overman. OF
North Carolina, and Governor Craig,
cause him to believe Federal roads leg
islation is possible at the snort session.
Governor Craig feels that there Is
nothing more important than the bet
terment of the roads. and he quickly
secured the several Governors 10 Join
him In kilograms to President Wilson.
DR.. Johnson is now in Washington.
D. G.. and, in a conference with Sena-
tor Simmons. who Ia chairman of the
senate Finance Committee. he suggest
cd that provision be made at this scs-
sion for Congress to continue and en-
large IN" work the government has
been doing for experimental roads, by
making an appropriation OF $500. 900
Tor experimental postroads and an adj
d!tonal 100000 for roads across for
est and indian reservations and other
fedevaiizcd areas where such links
form parts of established routes of
travel. Senator Simmons gave his
.
II is unnecessary TO say that Senator'S
Fall and Catron. OF New Mexico, are
favorable to the plan.
DR.. Johnson. in commenting upon the
situation, said: 1T would seem there
fore that simple and sensible
proposition ought to meet the approval
OF Congress, the President and the
country at large. To refuse to pro-
vide for the continuance of the work
which the government has already un-
dertaken. and which has been crowned
with signal success, the building of en-
perimental postroads would seem very
unwise. inasmuch as tentative work Is
pointing the way 10 the solution of the
general problem. To provide for the
extension OF the work along the line
indicated seems reasonable. In view Of
the fact that in many instances. not
only through routes of travel, and also
market roads lie across federaiized
areas. not open to entry or colonial
ton"
Another fact to which DIR. Johnson
calls attention is that, even In Char.
lotte, y. G., the county seat Of Neck
lenburG County, which was the county
cited at the Atlanta Congress rs typi-
cal of the value of the market roads,
the sentiment is very strong and in
sistent for the through routes of travel
as we'll, from Wash ington to Richmond.
to Savannah and Jacksonville. Atlanta
and New Orleans Charlotte Is making
strenuous efforts to link up with other
North Carolina centres. and also with
South Carolina and Georgia.