Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-06
FEDERAL AID IN ROADS
NEAR DEFINITE STAGE
Chairman DichI, OF \. 4. y. National
Good Roads Board, Comments
on Legislation in Progress.
STATE MUST HELP COUNTIES
senator Gore. Chairman nf Commit
tee With Which Rests Shaclileford
Bill, Says This Is an Auto Age and
Must BE an Auto Country.

WASHINGTON. February i.-"GraG-
uallv and iusiStcutly the Federal aid in
/ Tia" good roads question has approached
"a definite expression. which viii be
embodied in legislation adopted by the
present Congress" is the comment of
b Chairman George &. Dichl. of the y.
y y National Good Roads Board. in
reference to the multiplicity of high
, way measures which are going through
the nations legislative mill in Wash
iuEtOu. j.. &.
'"rhr concern Of the motor-car owner.
despite any assertion to the contrary.
ana horne out by the enact facts, is
the same as that of any other citizen.
Because OF greater opportunitH of OBJ
s.ryation and u yearly mileage which
disrcpards township, county and state
lines. the user of The sclf-propellcd
Vehicle has realized IN advance of other
road travellers that multiplying popu-
INtiorl and the increasing requirements
OF comprehensive intercourse have
rcVoiutioui2cd highways construction
ana maintenance methods.
The state must now approach the
problem from the viewpoint, first, of
the necessities Of the Commonwealth.
and must relieve the counties OF those
thoroughfarcs the cost of which
has become exceedingly burdcnsome
through the swelling streams of travel
from tributary roads making impcra-
tive modern building and up keep.
so great has this call from the
counties accumulated that the states
now approach the Federal source for
a cooperation essential TO the health
full development of the nation. Neigh
horlincss once restricted itself TO
localities within the ability OF the
muscle drawu vehicle. iSut a new and
economical form OF transportation for
humans and the exchange of Commodi-
ties is astoundingly accclcratinE road
reckon with the changed conditions. is
worse than standing still.
The bills now pending in Congress
very properly provide that only those
highways shall be improved which are
agreed upon between the State au-
thority and the Federal authority. The
purpose Of this. of course. is TO make
for a connected and wcll-dcvclopcd sys-
TEN, and II is comparatively easy for
the Federal official to reject an appli-
cation from State. because II is not on
q main thorouEhtarc. But 1t would he
next to impossible for him TO reject
an application for a maintenance en-
pcnditurc for the Same reason. view
at thus time with much concern the
employment OF Federal money for
rIoiEt"nancc purposes"
TIL" &o-callcd Shaclilcford bill. which
passed in the House OF Representatives.
N"w rests with the Committee on AGri-
culture. Of which Senator Gore, of Okla
huma. is the chairman.
In recent address. Senator Gore
thus commented upon the new roads
question: The general government
should cooperate with ;hc state gov
crnmcnts, paying dollar for dollar. in
tho establishment and construction OF
"A system of national highways. The
expenditure should be dollar for dollar,
in order TO safeguard against tho pork
barrel
- Federal revenue Of $4,000 900 a
wear from inhcritanccS would pay the
interest on Sjpe.o00.oOo or -;arc bonds
This amount, judciously and jointly
'Npcndcd by the Federal and state gov
"rnmcnts. would render possible tho
carly construction OF an uncQualcd
system of local ana national highways
With such system OF highways. the
Sc!i-propelcd vehicle would rcvolu-
tonne rural transportation In the
"i'"d states. This IL AN automobile
a." aud this is entitled TO be an auto
mobile country"