The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1919-09-25
S. Helps to Build Many New
Highways.

Because the people Of the United ed
! States have grown Accustomed 70
progressive legislation and big
events in the last eight years or SO,
it is likely that few paid any at
tention to the news item that
Senator Sheppard OF Texas, had in
| troduced a bill providing for the APP
out the federal good roads act.
America have caused derision, dis
comfort and the waste OF many mill
ions of dollars. The later item in,
Guided graft, poor construction and
| the loss to the farmers and others
who used the highways TOR the
market. Foreign visitors could not
| understand American apathy, seeing
the immensely of the business in
| volved, and having distinct rec
objection OF the wonderful highways
| But the American is learning
the Wilson administration in 1916
has been such speaking, paving sue
cess that there is little doubt that
Senator Sheppard's bill will pass
Congress, and that $4o0,000,00O will
be expended in further improve
The distance across the United
States is approximately $500 miles
In three years, with the Federal
Government putting up practically
dollar for dollar with the states,
1909 miles OF perfect roadway
have been constructed, or projects
have been approved and will be car
ried out, prior. to 1921 in every com
monwealth in this nation. This
means there were buit enough road
way to span the nation between
oceans four times, with something
left over for detour into Canada.
These 1909 miles of roads-con-
structed up to August 81, 1919I
airy lines of the United States, run
ming down the Atlantic coast from
where New Brunswick adjoins
Maine, around the Florida peninsula,
along the Gulf of Mexico to the Rio
1Grande river. along the Mexican
border to the Pacific, up the coast of
to the the Ca Canadian border H and then
eastward to the tip Of Maine and
down to the Atlantic once more.
Considering the magnitude of the
crop production of the United States
of the present day. it is regarded as
indeed fortunate that there are so
hauling to market: In fact, there is
little doubt that the increased mile
age of disable highways has proved
vital factor in increasing crop pro-
duction and exchanging the nations
wealth, as statistics testify.
The various commemorative
simply floundered whe good roads
gressive, the majority Indifferent. 1t
was evident that federal aid and
supervision were necessary to con-
vince the people. The first chapter
in the successful story of good roads
construction was written in 1912
when Congress voted an appropria-
ton of 100000 for experimental
worth while demonstrations, and SO
successful were they that in 1916
little effort was required to get bill
through Congress for an ap-
preparation of 100000, to be
expended in five years, together with
$ 100000 year for roads in
national parks and forest reserves.
npopriaton O Of 900 for the the
States and 100000 annually for
the parks and forests, carryinf the
work to 1921. This was a grand
total of 1918, 100000 for the general
work, and $19,0oo,o00 for the
forests.
But this appropriation has not
been entirely expended. Up to
August 81. 1919, the 5,OG9 miles of
road planned. under way or actually
constructed. had cost but $172,07S,
7SS, of which the Federal Govern
ment had contributed $50. 5,743.
Although the plan was to have the
Federal Government contribute dol
lar for dollar with the States. this is
not always done as the United States
cannot expend more than $4,000
mile. In many cases states have
desired road improvement in
particularly unfavorable localities.
In these instances the states have
gladly paid the excess costs of con-
struction. This accounts for the
discrepancy in the figures cited.
The pioneers Of the good roads
movement naturally are pleased with
the success of their. persistent cru
SADIE. and are not backward in award
ing President Wilson and his Demo-