The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1933-01-05
THE COST OF
HIGHWAYS
By
NICHOLAS BURGESS,
In the Baltimore Sunday Sun, January
1, 1888.

puDllc-Splrlted clClZenS demanding
more and more State and Federal re-
lief work, and another group of poll
ticians and equally public spirited cit
liens demanding reductions in taxes,
it seems likely that this winters ses-
sion of Congress and our State Legis-
lature will bring to light many new
plans and principles. all expressly for
the benefit of the people, and all in di-
rect opposition to each other. If one
were to digest all the schemes he
would be either a master politician
or mental patient, with the odds on
the latter, but it requires only casual
examination to learn that relief fea-
ture common to many plans is the con-
struction Of new roads.
Automobile traffic has increased so
rapidly in recent years that neces-
sity for new roads apparently may be
found in every section. Furthermore,
road construction furnishes jobs for a
relatively large number of men, and
it's benefits are enjoyed Immediately
by the average motorist-citizen.
At the last session Of Congress the
sum of $120,OOO,0OG was appropriated
to the States for work on Federal-aid
highway systems. OF this sum Mary
land was allotted $1,019,75O, and pro-
jects utilizing this fund were started
last fall by the State Roads Commits
sion. The work is being divided among
the various counties in accordance
with the regulations imposed by Con-
gress.
x4z
While, of course, this Federal aid
is intended for serious and worthy
purpose, it is not without its humor
Gus angle. For some fifteen years
Congress has appropriated money for
roads, with the provision that the
States match the appropriations with
an equal sum, but many States have
passed up either their entire share or
a large part of it. The last Congress,
determined that it would help the
States build roads, appropriated $780,
100000 with the provision that it be
paid back out of future Federal aid,
beginning in 1888.
But this was not the only restric-
ton placed on States acceptance
e o11oL4oI f,1rt hor
provided that former service men
with dependents should be given pref
erence in employment that manual
labor methods be used as much as pos
sible that thirtY-hour week be OBJ
served; that a minimum wage scale
be established and set forth in the
contracts, and that work be completed
by July, 1888.
It is apparent that many contro-
vcrsies might arise in interpreting the
restrictions; the question of labor
alone has puzzled many engineers. A
large part of road construction al
ready is done by manual labor, even
in this machine age, and questions
have arisen over the extent to which
modern machinery should be used. For
instance, what about the cement mix
er? And for that matter, is a pick
or spade merely a tool, or is it a ma
chine?
**%
So dubious are. some States over
these provisions that they have been
hesitant about accepting this "emer-
gency" aid. Last summer one New
England States. attitude was that it
would be financially unsound to build
new roads under these terms, which
were expected to increase the cost
considerably, through special account
ing systems, changes in construction
and employment methods, and the
like.
Most States, with many unemployed
citizens, have been willing to accept
any reasonable form Of assistance.
The fact that the money does llut nave
to be repaid until 1883, and then out
of additional Federal aid, probably
has encouraged acceptance Of the help.
Federal loans of this nature have a
way of becoming cancelled after few
years, too, observers have noticed. An
other factor which induces many of
the States to accept such aid lies in
the argument that, in. the last analy-
sis, it is their own money which they
are using. Through its citizens each
State contributes its. share toward the
expenses Of the Federal Government,
and any money which comes back
from Washington is regarded as mere
ly offsetting part Of the States con-
tribution. ...
Road building is generally consid-
cred one of the soundest forms of
emergency relief-more so than post
Offices, for example---and few persons
have criticized the extension of Fed
eral loan facilities to this work. After
a recent analysis of the cost of road
building, the United States Bureau Of