Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-03-15

reported completed by states avail
ing of federal aid. Appropriations
made by congress to pay the fed
erai governments proportion Of the
cost Of state road building projects
now total s4S,500,000. This soon
will be increased materially. An
addition OF $500, 100000 probably
will be available during the next
three years.
With these millions available
and with the approval of the fed
eral government on $50 road-build-
ing projects, involving 7.S69.61
miles Of roads, less than As miles
44.969 to be exact-of roads have
been constructed under the federal
aid plan.
The Information and education
service Of the Q. s. department Of
labor, cooperating with such ma
tional organizations as the Ameri-
can Automobile association, the
Automobile Chamber Of Commerce,
and the National Highway Indus
tries association, is calling to the
attention of state officials the de-
STABILITY of at once getting under
way such state road construction
as has been approved by the fed
eral government and for which the
latter has set aside funds.
In addition to obvious benefits
derived from improved highways.
the department of labor urges a
new argument, especially important
at this time when labor conditions
are arousing anxiety and business
is endeavoring to find an unembar-
raised way back to peace condi-
tions. For the states at once to
go in for road building is, accord
ing to the department of labor, a
direct way to stimulate business
and absorb labor. To all that has
been said heretofore on the value
Of good roads. now may be added
road buildings potentlalities as an
efficacious tonic for the industrial
organization of the country.
The department of labor does not
deny that road materials and labor
costs are high. Rather, the infor-
nation and education service as
serts, indications are that prices
will remain high for some time to
come and, in view of the forecasts
for market conditions, it is impru-
dent to longer hold up state con-
structtou anticipating lower con-
structtOn costs. Secretary of La
Dor Wilson, both in a recent ad-
dress in New York City and in an
article in Golfers Weekly, ex-
pressed the conviction that an era
of unprecedented activities is
ahead of American industry. He
asserted his confidence in the abil-
ity of American industry to absorb.
eventually, the labor released from
the army and from war indus
tries. He did not hesitate, however,
to emphasize the fact that during
the months of transition from war
to peace conditions, the labor situa-
ton is fraught with disquieting
possibilities if it is altogether neg
lected
Road building will provide buffer
employment for thousands of men
until they can be absorbed by in
dustries as the latter gradually
reach their peace-stride production.
Road building Immediately pays
dividends in increased land values,
Roads are an asset to every state
and to their permanent value as
public improvements is now added
their temporary value, of incalcul-
able importance, of stimulating
business and protecting estate
against the possibilities of period
of general unemployment
If the various states would get
under way such bodybuilding pro-
jects as have been approved by the
federal government, $56.171, S46.72
would be spent for better roads
and, if the construction costs are
higher than in pre-war times, the
actual financial outlay for the
states need not be higher, since ap-
proximately half of the bill would
be paid by the federal government
There have been set aside to COW
er the federal governments portion
of the costs on the $50 road pro-
poets approved in various states,
more than s21, 200, 900. This now
is available for states which will
go to work on their road construc-
ton on plans approved by the fed
eral government.
Although federal aid for state
roads has been available since
1917, but eight states report road