The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1919-01-16
KANSAS GOOD ROADS PROGRAM
Endorsed by Governor Arthur Cdpper in Address De-
iuered at the Meeting of the Kansas Good Roads
ASSOCIATIVE Directors in Topeka Friday
December 81, 1918.

us IN TOPEKA FTIuuy,
II 81, 1918.
istration as governor, the people es-
tablished state highway commission
to work out these construction prob
lens from statewide viewpoint and
to take advantage Of federal aid
which the government has so gener-
ously offered. Every state in the
Union now has highway commission
and / am glad to say that the ad-
ministration of the Kansas commits
sion has been most effective. While
the amount of funds at the commits
sion's disposal has been very modest
and it has no money with which to
aid directly in road and bridge con-
struction, the commission has worked
out a system of highways, connect
ing the counties which reaches 85
per cent of our population and go
per cent Of the taxable property.
Under the Benefit District Law,
the commission has approved plans
for 335 miles of hard-surfaced roads.
The estimated cost will be $10,14O,-
925.69, towards which 81, 592,530.17
federal aid will be appropriated.
Bridge plans have been approved
for 548 bridges and culverts, total
ling $762,7l0.S5. Of these Seventy
seven bridge plans were provided by
the commission. The construction
cost will be $159,259.84. Many
counties have made use of the stand
ard plans and specifications published
by the commission.
Provide Work for Many
Taking into account that war con-
ditions make it necessary for the fed
eral government for many months to
prohibit our use of building material,
l think this record of the commission
in connection with the work of the
counties is most satisfactory.
But the nation is now getting ready
for reconstruction program which
not only will make up for lost time
during the war, but will utilize the
immense force of men who are re-
turning from overseas and who are
coming home thoroly converted to
advantages of stable construction in
highway work.
Several of our sister states have
had this vision and are already pre-
pared with definite program. 1t
seems to me Kansas should be as far
sighted and forehanded. We have no
state debt. Our highway organiza-
ton is thoroly prepared to go ahead
with any program the people want.
There is every reason why we should
make supreme effort to induce
homeseekers to come to Kansas and
there is nothing that will promote and
develop our agricultural industry so
much as a system of dependable
roads.
Pay From Motor Car Fund
The state of Illinois at the recent
election, by a vote of 6 to 1, voted
to issue $50, 0,00O in bonds for
building hard-surfaced roads, all of
which will be paid for out of the auto
mobile fund. If the state of Illinois
can build system of 1890 miles Of
hard-surfaced roads out of her auto
mobile fund and pay the interest and
principal of this fund in twenty years /
Kansas can do likewise, as Kansas has
more automobiles per capita than IL
linois and we have just as good ce-
ment plants as our sister states. The
funds for such work will be spent for
work and wages and materials within
our own borders and a greater part |
of the money will come back to US.
In the meantime it will have supplied
greatly needed employment to men
just out of army service.
There are only four states in the
Union-Georgia, North Carolina,
Florida and Kansas which do not
give state aid for road construction.
believe that the legislature should
submit a constitutional amendment
to enable the state to make appro-
priations for state aid in road build
ing. Kansas, next to Texas, has the
largest road milage of any state in
the Union, but we are virtually at the
bottom of the list in the number of
miles of hard-surfaced roads.
think we should provide that wher-
ever a paved road becomes a part of
the states highway system, the state
shall reimburse the county for the
cost of building the road.
Time to Act is Here
l feel sure that the people of Kan
sas believe the time has come to bepin