Oxford eagle., 1919-04-03
BIG YEAR In BODYBUILDING
HOPED FOR AT CONFERENCE
State Highway Officials Appeal to
Railroad Administration for Re-
ductiOn of Freight Rates;
Ask Return of Engineers

Middle Western States, meeting at
conference in Washington March l,
called by Secretary Houston, were told
by the secretary that the department
desires to give every possible help in
expediting resumption and progress of
highway building under the Federal
Aid Road Act.
Arrangements were being made for
a similar conference soon with high
way department representatives from
the states not represented at the meet
ing.
Secretary Houston announced at the
conference that the Postofflce appro-
priation bill, carrying $209, 10000 ad-
ditional funds for highway constIuc
ton under the Federal Aid Road
Act, had been signed by the President,
thus becoming law. A canvass OF
the representatives in attendance in
dicated that if conditions are favor
able there will be spent for road build
ing during the next 1S months approx
imately half billion of dollars, from
Federal, State, and local funds. This
work. it is estimated, would employ
more than 100 900 men in active road
work, in addition to the mn engaged
in the production and furnishing of
road building materials.
The representatives of the State high
wav departments reported that exist
ing freight rates are a serious impedl-
ment to the immediate resumption of
road building. Accompanied by Clar-
ence Ousley, Assistant Secretary Of
| Agriculture, they presented the stu
alton to officials of the Railroad Ad-
ministration. They received a SYM
pathetic hearing and were given the
promise that the matter would be
taken under advisement, with de-
cision probably in about 10 days from
that time.
The Secretary of Agriculture al
nornced at the conference that re
sumption of highway work has the az
tive interest of President Wilson, who
had urged immediate consideration CT
the problem in a radiogram sent while
the President was returning 70 this
country from Paris.
Would Return Army Engineers.
Secretary Houston promised 10 take
up with the War Department the re
quest of the State highway officials
that Engineer regiments, now II
France and containing large number
IF highway engineers, should De re
turned to this coutrV and temobllZcd
The Secretary sad tnat m9hWd'
work is desirable this spi1ng ana sum
mer not oAly for the sake Cf tne I'M
proved roads themselves, but Tor the
employment such work viii furnish t(
men discharged from the army anc
from war industries. After hearing
reports of the status Of road work II
various states, and the sentiment
among the people for better roads
he said that the situation is highly en-
couraging and the state highway de
partments can count on every help thai
the department can give IN using the
money available for Federal aid roaC
work. He declared his belief that
highway work should be resumed i'm
mediately notwithstanding present
costs of materials and labor, and that
such a procedure would be the cheap
est thing in the end for the country
at large.
Iell Ot Progress lii states.
Among the state officials VINO re
ported on conditions were Col. w. u.
Unler, o1 pennsylvania, VINO SAID thai
Gov. SprouI has oIdered the roaC
campaign this year pushed to tnt
limit Frank +. Rogers, Oh Michigan
who said his state is preparing 10 starr
) an intensive road campaign as soof
as the weather permits; 1. ii. Nc
Donald, OF Iowa, who said sentiment
is sweeping over the Middle West fol
nigh grade roads in preference t(
: cheaper construction; Edwin A. Duf
fey, of New York, who said thai
one of the greatest problems before
: road builders is the carriage of heavy
trucks and that limits should be placeC
, upon loads allowed to traverse i'm
proved highways.
w. M. Williams, solicitor of the
Department of Agriculture, explained
various provisions of the amendment
to the Federal Aid Road Act, as con
tanned in the Postoffice Appropriation
Act and said that the most liberal in
terpretations possible will be placec
the law by his office IN order that roao
building may be expedited.
J Among the state highway officials
who attended the conference was J