Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-05-08
THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE V-Buding Roads
By Frederi j. Haskin.

1rTAsHTNGToN May More progressive road
wv laws have been passed in the United States in
W the last three months than in year since
the establishment of union. This spring sees the
beginning of actual building operations in great cam
paign for better roads. This campaign will extend
years it will finished until there is first
class road system extending the entire United
States. The task a colossal but the nation is
Working a plan which seems to spell success.
The new system was inaugurated by passage of
the federal aid road piece of legislation more
important than people realize, that made
into law at the last session of congress During the
winter machinery putting the law into opera
ton organized and now with the opening of the
spring working season, the campaign begins. The
federal approprates $25O0OO0O of
money to be spent entirely for better roads it provides
that the states appropriate equal amount,
barring $0o0OOOO of the which toward roads
on national forests More than that however the states
have taken the idea with much enthusiasm that
conservative officials that all indications point to
the states covering the government money with two
dollars for that all in all they will put up
$150OoOOO0 Thus s235OOoo0O will be spent for
road building in the four under the
vision of the office of public roads of the department Of
agriculture.
These large figures do tell the whole story The
road act will have effects more significant and far
reaching It should assure three things that
much American roads than the expenditure of
s235Ooo,OOO These things foresight, economy and
expert supervision in road building.
Nobody this any doubt : the immense
Importance of adequate roads. Twelve years the
states only spending about 100000
roads, while today it is estimated that the nation Is
spending through various channels sS00OOO00O yearly
road building ard upkeep. When Uncle Sam
down into his wallet for $S0O,000,o00 year for any
thing 1T is pretty certain that he needs It, The
is than half the cost of the Panama canal, a
project whose magnitude made the nation open its
when 1T first suggested Few people have paid a
similar Of attention the road matter because
the road money been spent little time, here
and there and the impressive total called for
in a lump.
There are some pretty facts connected with this
annual budget of 100000. We pride
being business nation, the world looks to
business efficiency before all other peoples,
eral live up reputation. road
have been spent In very unbusinesslke fashion.
perts estimate that about s50,000,000 year OF
annual local road expenditure served really useful
purpose. This was absolute loss due
dishonesty malicious intent but solely mad
equacy Of the system.
This road problem us with rush It
is twentieth century problem born of the growth of
Cities of the popularity of the automobile Thirty
years the road problem mghS conceivably have
been considered a local problem Today the only
possible to consider it is national problem.
The road from Browns farm Smiths
thing than a road Browns Smiths. 1t
chain that Maine and California.
and has to be regarded SUCH 1t is no longer ques
ton whether road Is good enough for
Smith, but whether it is good enough for national
5000 counties in United States.
have been attacking the road problem 5000
county problems There is little doubt that it should
be attacked national problem.
There has been of late plenty enthusiasm for
roads. people did realize sufficiently
building a modern road is job for expert. The
experience of vigorous. busting little western city