The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1917-02-01
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL
tBy J f. JonesD
Bookings Register Bureau, Washington, DC
The Postal Savings Bank

N@fE NfNE@ $1,000 N-f N'
The Postal Savings Bank
Things bumped along pretty slowly
with the postal savings banks during
the first year or more, and as 4 result
the post Office department withdrew
the system from many small towns.
Its first success was attained in large
centers, whose foreign population had
been educated 10 its use in their own
countries. Residents of interior places
find a good deal of difficulty in econ
cling the placing of their money in
the local post Office, when they have
full knowledge that it is to be carried
direct to the home bank and placed on
deposit by the government. They have
argued that if the government has
such faith in the local banks, then
why should the individual be so charry
about depositing directly with them.
The post office department reports an
increase Of $4,000 in deposits last
month. At the department it was said
that the gain is due to the removal Of
restrictions OF the amount that may
be accepted, and is also one of the re-
suits of nationwide prosperity. The
New York post office has more than
$4,000. 900 on deposit; Brooklyn So
467, 900; Chicago 1929, 900; Boston
$4,000, 900; Detroit $2,127, 900.
Growth Of Good Roads
While an enormous amount Of work
remains to be done the national hign-
way system is no longer a reproach to
the country. A statement recently
issued by the office Of public roads
shows that Of all of the mileage out
side of the cities and towns, amount.
ing to 2,452, 900 miles, about 277, 900
miles were improved with some sort
of surfacing at the beginning of the
present year. Surfaced roads are in
creasing at the rate of Is, 900 miles a
year. The total expenditure for road
and bridge work in 1915 was about
1882, 900 900 being an increase of $50
per cent over 1904. The states super
vised the expenditure of $50, 500, 900.
There is a highway department in
every state government except those of
Indiana, South Carolina and Texas.
cash expenditure for roads and bridges
in the United States averages $109 a
mile. The significant feature of the
development is doubtless due to auto.
mobile traffic. The farmers of the
country yelled themselves hoarse in at
tempts to get good roads for many
years, but what they failed to secure
alone has been readily obtainable since
the automobile came into more general
use. There are approximately $780,
900 automobiles in use on the roads of
the country, or one car for every mile
of road; and the motor traffic is now
greater tina was the traffic of all kinds
twelve years ago. The influence of
the automobile upon road improve
ments reaches the remotest rural re-
giOns, and tends to convert bad roads
into good ones, and good roads into
better ones. In the beginning the
farmers entertained very strong pre-
JUDGES against motoring but now tens
of thousands of them are making pro-
fits by catering to the passing motor
lists. Many more have been convinced
to the new manner Of transportation
by reason of owning their own ma
chimes.
Uncle Sans Money is Up
What will be the attitude of tbs
United States towards foreign com
merce is a question very simply an
swered, II one will forget the matter al
a political issue. and examine into the
activities Of the American Interna
tional Corporation. The title indicates
that foreign affairs r a question Of
concern. Fifty million dollars is up
ana such names Of captains Of nnancs
and industry % Percy Rockefeller
Theodore N. Vail. Charles A. Stone
49, . we