The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-09-01
NATIONAL HIGHWAYS.

siasm among the states and their COM
munities, or counties, over the good
roads legislation enacted not so long
ago by congress-the national good
roads endeavor which contemplates
the expenditure of $S5.O0O,Ooo of the
government funds during the next
ten years in the construction of good
roads or the improvement of existing
cnes; that is. of course. If the states
will put up an equal share for road
improvement work and which they
must do in order to get their quota of
the federal good roads funds.
But is this enthusiasm justified?
Would it not be possible for the fed
eral government to put $s5.0o0,000
in ten years and perhaps a like sum
or a larger one during the succeeding
ten years into road building work in a
different manner and to a better pur-
pose and the larger advantage of the
whole people of the country?
1t is true that in several of the
states. especially in the eastern section
Of the country. where there is really
progressive legislation and endeavor
for the improvement of the highways,
this federal good roads law and the
money it appropriates will be of ma
terial assistance in the good roade'
work that is already under way in
these states or which is yet to be I'M
dertaken.
How, tho, will these federal good
roads funds help in other states in
any considera Bile manner in respect to
adding to their highway equipment.
Take Kansas. for instance, and
where many eager eyes have been
turned to this states first years allot-
Eient of this national good roads ap-
preparation. The sum is less than
$4,000.
Kansas constitution is so ingen-
iously framed that the state cannot en-
gage in the business of internal i'm
provements. Hence, the state of itself
cannot even participate in this federal
good roads plan unless a loophole is
inserted in the new national good
roads law. or until the Kansas consti-
tuition may be amended so as to per-
init state, that needs permanent
highways as badly as any state in the
union, to go into the road building
business in a proper and serviceable
way.
The probabilities are, tho, that con-
gress will listen to the prayers of
divers Kansans and that some way
will be found to allow the state to
enjoy its share of the federal good
roads fund for this year and for sue
ceeding years.
This being accomplished, how will
these federal funds be applied in Kan
sas. There is only one way open. They
must be distributed pro rata or pro-
portionately among the several coun-
ties of the state, or among, at least,
those counties that are willing to
match with equal sums for road i'm
provement whatever may be their por-
lions of this national fund, or Kan
sass share of it.
Suppose all the Kansas counties
jump in because this good roads water
looks so finel
This means that during an ensuing
year Kansas quota of the federal
good roads appropriation-and it is
less than $145, GOODWILL be divided up
in some fashion among no less than
work will be done with this money
/: in Kansas even with each county put
ting up as much money as it gets from
the government for this purpose, and
especially under the hit and miss sys-
tenn of road construction that is now
in order in Kansas, even tho most ear
rest efforts are being made in many
counties to get something like ade-
quate returns for the money they are
row putting into road improvement ?
This is a rather lengthy question
but it seems to be one that answers
itself.
If the national government is really
5 sincere, or if congress is really sincere
, in having the federal government &C
. into the good roads business wouldn't
5 1t be better plan, and one that would
2 provide the nation and many of the
= states with really good roads, If Uncle
Sam devoted this $S5, 100000 during
the next ten years and a like sum OIL
2 more during the following ten years
t TO the construction of national high.
4 ways?
r Two such highways crossing the
;, country at different ATTITUDES between
r the Atlantic and the Pacific and two
t such highways on widely separated
t longitudinal lines running from the
l. Canadian border to our southern
n boundaries would be sufficient fol
= starters in such a national highwa,
= movement.
n They might be, and undoubtedI,
n would be, of considerably larger ad
vantage to the states thru which the,
ran than they would be to the state,
e they missed. But the latter woulC
e not be so many.