University of Virginia record :: October 1, 1915 :: University of Virginia Library

Mr. Chairman, the district which I represent contains not only
large and important cities, but also an important farming community,
and they are both equally interested in the construction and maintenance
of good roads. The majority of the people of Pennsylvania
are interested in the construction of good roads. In my judgment
there is no other thing which will so advance civilization as that
which promotes the interchange of intelligence and commodities between
the different parts of a country and the different peoples who
reside in that country. It is a difficult matter to excite sufficient
interest to construct a road. It is still more difficult to secure the
continued interest which will keep that road in repair. I consider
this measure as most admirably framed to produce that result. The
amount which is proposed to be given as rental for the use of the
different classes of roads would not amount to the interest on the

money that would be required to construct any one of the roads of
the class named in the measure, but it will be an inducement to keep
those roads in good repair. It has been stated that it would require
$16,000,000 the first year in order to meet the provisions of this
measure. If it did take $16,000,000, that would mean that there were
about 800,000 miles of road kept in good condition throughout the
United States. At present in this country there are less than 200,000
miles of improved roads, and if by an expenditure of $16,000,000
you could have 800,000 miles of road that were passable at all times
of the year for vehicles of all classes, that were graded in conformity
to the topography of the country and "with ample side ditches, so
constructed and crowned as to shed water quickly into the side
ditches, continuously kept well compacted and with a firm, smooth
surface," it would reduce the expenses of transportation from the
present high figures to what it now costs in France, namely, 7 cents
per ton per mile. This measure would permit the farmer, the fruit
or the truck raiser to get his produce to the market at a much less
rate, and thereby it would be a benefit not only to him but to each
person using his products in different parts of the country. It would
permit the merchant in the city to carry or send anything he had
of value to the farmer at a much less cost, and the result would be
an economy to each individual as well as to the Government, as the
mails that were transported over the roads would be carried at a
much less actual cost, which would result in a diminution of the cost
per mile to the Government from what it is now paying for this
service.

Something has been said about the cost of inspection. Each man
in charge of a rural delivery route would be a constant inspector of
the road he covers, and the man who is sent out as a general inspector
could, with a small expenditure of time in addition to that
he now occupies, discover the condition of the roads. I consider the
measure of great importance to this country, and will do as much,
if not more, to advance civilization than any other measure that I
have seen introduced in this Chamber.