Evening star., 1916-10-15
BY JAMES B. MORROW.

n IAN walked. when he travelled.
lMMl ages ago. Some say on four
NN|l legs: others says on two. Then
0S he caught a wild horse, q
donkey or bull. broke it and climbed
on its back. Wheels. the greatest Of
all his discoveries. perhaps. gave him
seat on which to sit and ply his CAD
or crack his whip. Thus he moved
about. A1ong with his wife or wives,
his children and his goods.
Paths became roads. deep with dust
or mud, in the parade Of the seasons
through the almanac. Mans war with
his roads, possibly. has cost him more
in blood and money than have his wars
against himself, as nation has met ma
tion. passioned by conquest or self
defense.
Living now, far east Of the Mississip-
youth. during spring thaws and au-
tumn freeztngs, remained at home or
journeyed on foot Mills ran short of
stocks for want of corn and wheat;
and meal and flour went up in price.
1t was the same with butter, eggs and
meat.
Markets fuctuated, according to the
huidity or holidity of the mud. A ride
of a mile meant an hour spent in clean
ing ones horse. 1t was cheaper to
walk and then scrape ones boots with
a stick. Couples who might have we'd
ded were kept apart.
BY and by appeared wheels revolved
by gasoline-the same old wheels, ex-
nir hot
volved by oxen when man carried a
long stick and wore his beard down to
his knees and little Of anything else.
In boast-reasonable at first look
belong the cheers II American roads
are improved. They overlook the ma
chine itself.
Irrespective of his eloquence, energy
or facts, man would still be floundering
in the mud or jolting his bones over
that has changed the whole method.
except on railroads and in ships, Of
hauling passengers and small ahd
coarse freight. The automobile holds
age. and going to Congress demands
and is voted $76.o00.0 900 in cash.
Five millions of the money Is to be
spent in tho states this government
year. the last day Of which is June 50.
getting ready to bid. FEDERAL eSperts
are putting q hner edge on their wits.
Ten million is to be the outlay next
year. fifteen million the year following,
twenty million the year after that and
twenty-five million during the year
that will close In June. 1891.
The balance of the appropriation,
Slo.ooo.ooo. is to be expended during
trails in and adjacent to tho national
forest reserves" The Secretary of
Agriculture will be the watchman on
the walls that surround all the funds
be Logan Waller Page. director Of the
Office Of public roads, which means
that he is Uncle Sans road-maker-tn-
chief. He is both geolosist and an
engineer.
Since leaving Harvard more than
twenty years ago, Mr.. Page has been
testing cements, rocks, bricks, clays.
gravels and all tho materials, sinRly
and in combinations, with which mod
ern roads are constructed. This he has
done for the highway commission Of
Massachusetts, the Lawrence Scientific
School at Cambridge and the United
States government.
Grating local officials and crooked
contrs ctors. II any are discovered. will
be dealt with in and by the state
where they are found. Tho only Action
Of the national government will be to
have paid for the building Of the road
on which the irregularity occurred.
This menace to wrongdoers. It is
thought, will keep matters straight,
Congress-" I said to Mr.. Page, has
appropriated s75.ooo.ooo to aid In the
building OF roads within the states
during the next i've, years. The states,
however. must expsnd on the same
roads at least an amount equal to that
contributed by the national Eovsrn-
!nsnt: How many miles can be built
for $160.o00. DOOR
II you asked how many housaa
could be put up for $l50, 700. .ooo." M.
Page answered, II would inquire, II