THE DAILY CAPITAL JOURNAL, SALEM, OREGON, SATURDAY, SEPT. 2, 1916.
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Secretary of Agriculture
Talks of Federal Road Act
Wnsliiiijrton, ('., Sopt. . At a
meeting ( ti,,. sinie liiuhwny offirinls
hold August 111. lit III, in WualiiugMn.
' to dicMia teutativo rulcn au.i regnla
lioim for carrvitij; out the rVdcral aid
road art, the wvretury of iiKriiulturi'
made, tli followinj; statement:
'The I'Vilerul aiil rrnl act hii,1 an
other law the ooiiierutive agrivulturnl
ratriiHinu nt't that the tlepHrttient is
charged with the duty of ent'ureing,
eatalpliah n new irieiple in American
Koveriimcnt, the principle of ooporea
tiuo between lVdernl and State offi
cer. They are the only laws f recall
which recogni.e and insist upon thin
principle. They nrp therefore very
nignificant. Heretofore Federal and
Stnto officer have too frequently
loohed nt one anoiner across the line,
loinotiiuin with apprehension ns to
what the other was going to do or
think, sometimes with jealousy, not in
frequently with friction. We serve
thu name people. They have a right to
the best nerviee of the representatives
of both jurisdictions. You represent
the. States. I represent the Federal
Roveriunent. Together we are charged
with tlie execution of a very difficult
mid very important law. I
"1 need not einphasi.-.e before you
the importance of good rends. Most
intelligent people who think about
jrood roads know that they nro essen
tial to comfortable living, essential to
propor community development, especi
lly to the development of rural life,
to efficient production mid orderly
marketing of farm producM, to good
whools. and to the development of a
Mtixfnftorv rural life.
"Many people, however, do not np
proeinte thia, and I have occasionally
met road officers who, when the lm-1
iiortnnce of good roads was emphasized,
ibvo mid: Ytv, but thev cost so
much.' Apparently they have not
thought how much moro bad roads
cost, not only la dollars and cents, but
ls in all those indirect wavs for
which one can make no definite calcul
ation. Large Expenditure! for Roads.
'This law appeals to me as of
especial importance, not so much be
muse it carries with it out of the
Federal Treasury an appropriation of
85 millions of dollars, not because it
will be met by an appropriation of 75
million or more out of State fuuds, if
all the Slates accept the act, but be-
cause as great as is the aggregate, it .
is relatively insignificant in compari-.
won with amounts the States are now
annually expending and will spend
during the period covered by the act.
'I remember thnt, on one occasion, I
when I was speaking to public of
ficial about the road bill and suggested
that we ought to begin with the mod-.
it initial appropriation of throe, four,
or five) millions of dollars, h j
pressed surprise and said that such an
amount would not get us anywhere;
that the expenditure by the nation of
a few millions of dollars for roads
would bo hum ply trifling with the
mutter. I asked him if he kuew what
the peoplo of the nation were con
tributing aiinunlly for road building,
that the nation wag already expending
the equivalent of nearly half of what
tho Panama canal has cost. Of course
he did not. And the nfiijority of peo
ple do not realize that the nation is
expending approximately ir-W.POO.OOO
n year for roads.
A Dollar's Result for Each Dollar
Expended.
"The main question that I am im
mediately concerned with, that the
people of the nation are immediaately
concerned with, is whether we shall
K't a dollar's result for every dollar we
expend for roads. 1 am quite sure that
if we do so nnd we cau convince the
people that we have done so, they will
be willing to put much more money
into good roads where they are needed.
Therefore, the matter of administering
this law, of devising good road sys
tems, of careful si-lection of roads, of
formulating projects, of developing
plans and specifications, of having all
matters considered on their merit by
competent men, seem to me to lie lit
the root of this business. If, ns the
result of this act, the people nro in
duced fullv to realize the necessity of
pla.inp skillful and experienced men
in charge of road uilding and road
maintenance, a great advance will
have been made und the efforts of
those who labored to secure the legis
lation will have been rewarded.
Employment of Experts,
'l assume, as a matter of necessity,
that this law will require the employ
ment iu every State of experts, of real
experts. This word is very much mis
used and abused, -.s the word theor
ist' is. I frequently hear a contrast
drawn between the theorists asd the
practical men.. There is no basis for
it. The classification ought to be into
good theorists an bad theorists, of
practical men and impractical men. A
really good thoorist is highly practical:
and so is a real expert. The public is
somewhat suspicious of experts, be
cause. I thiu(t, so many people pose as
experts who are not. When the public
sets an expert aside, it is worth while
to inquire carefully into the expert's
claims and competency.
"I repeat that this act will necessi
tate trained intelligence in the service
of the State as well as in the service of
tha Federal (lovornmeut. The act re
quires the Stato to Aoeept it. That' as
I understand it, implies the assent of
ths State to every provision of the
act. One of these provisions is that
projects, plans, specifications, and con
tracts shall be submitted and ap
proved: and h have n suspicion that
plans and specifications will not be ai
proved unless they are submitted by
people who know about such things.
S-o the assent of the State involves the
calling of trained men into the service
of every stnto which is now without
them.
''The law involves another thing,
the jdedge of the faith of the Stnte to
meet, in full the Federal appropriation
for the entire peril covered by the
net. The State legislature may not be
able to appropriate money one year for
the whole period covered by the act,
but it can pledge the faith of the State
to meet the finniiciul provisions of the
act for the period covered by it. This
is as it sohuld be. It would be un
fortunate if it were otherwise. t
would be wasteful not to make plans
at the outset for the full period cov
ered by the act; it would mean piece
meal rond building and nnich dissipa
tion of effort and misdirection of
funds. These requirements hold wheth-
I er the Stnte as such, under the exist
ling law, may engage in road building
j or not. The provision that where the
: State may not engage in highway im
I provement the mon"y may be secured
if counties raise an 'amount sufficient
: to meet the apportionment Jo the stnte
I iuvolves the necessity on the part of
I such counties of raising an nmouut suf
ficient to meet the full apportionment
tor tne state, the existeuce of a high
way commission, and compliance with
all the other terms of the act. 1 speak
of this because there are evidences that
individual counties think thnt. if they
raise a certain sum of money, they
will of necessity get a corresponding
sum from the Federal Treasury. Thnt
is not my construction of the net and
not the one that will be likely to pre
vail. ''The duty will rest upon yon gentle
men who represent the States of in
forming the people as to the meaning
of this legislation and ns to the pro
cedure under it, because the initiative
under the law lies with you. We are
directed to cooperate with you; with
the State through the State highway
department. It is your duty, if your
state accepts the law. to agree with us
on Toads to be constructed and to sub
mit projects, plans and specifications.
Therefore, individuals, associations,
and counties will of necessity take up
such matters directly with you. and we
shall hear from them through you for
the most part.
Boads and Trails for the National
Forests,.
"There is a section of the act which
contemplates only part of the country.
The nation owns great areas, especial
ly, in Our western states, and is acquir
ing areas in certaiu others of our
states. The nation owes a duty to the
people living in the National' Forests
or near them. Tn many instances com
munities struggling for development
have been compelled to rely too ex
clusively for necessary improvement
on taxes from private property or on
private contributions. It is true that
under the law we have heretofore been
setting aside for road improvement 10
per cent of the gross receipts from the
forests. This has been no inconsider
able' sum, nearly three-quarters of a
million dollars since the act was passed,
and approximately $278,000 for the
present fiscal year. But in some sec
tions there are no receipts from the
forests and communities have been left
to struggle as best they could. The
government in many instances is the
owner of the greater part of these as
sets, and it is 0nly equitable and wise
that the Federal government should as
sist them. So there is approprintaed
by the act $10,000,000, a million a year
for 10 years, for the construction of
roads nnd trnils in or near the Nation
al Forests, with the understanding thnt
communities interested will cooperate
financially and otherwise. Those of
yon who represent forest stntes, as a
matter of course, will think of coordi
nating work under your direct state
rond funds and those arising under the
general provisions of the rond act with
the woTk to be undertaken uuder this
special appropriation.
Legislation to Aid Distribution.
"1 diii hopeful that great benefit
will accrue to the nation from the
wit and efficient administration of
this act. It is one of a series of meas
ures recentlv .conceived and enacted
for the development of rural life. 'We
began by formulating a law on similar
lines, the cooperative agricultural ex
tension act. We then enacted the cot
ton futures law- to give the cotton
farmers and dealers standards to trade
on and to secure supervision of the
operations on futures exchnnges. a
similar law to establish standards for
grains and to regulate interstate and
foreign commerce in them, nnd the
warehouse bill for the better storage
of staple crops and for the emission
of a warehouse receipt which should bo
good collateral for loans. We have
given an opportunity to the National
banks to lend funds on farm mortgages,
and have extended the period of ma
turity for farm paper and adopted the
Federal farm loan act. All these lie
in the field of distribution as does
this road act. which lies at the founda
tion of satisfactory and orderly
marketing.
Attitude of Department of Agriculture.
"T have come here today mainly to
meet you and to express my apprecia
tion of the very ready response you
have made to the request of the de
partment to give it information and
the benefit of your experience in
framing the rules and regulations for
the administration of the federal-aid
road act. I am a very great believer
in co-operation, and I think one saves
much trouble by beginning to cooper
ate at the outset.
"I appreciate the keen Interest you
have shown in the shaping and devel
opment of this legislation. I shall do
everything in mv power to facilitate
your tasks, to aid you in the discharge
of them so far as the powers of the
department permit, whether through
this law or through the direct appro
priations to the office of public roads.
I ask your full, generous, and efficient
cooperation. If we view matters broad
ly and generously, we shall have no
difficulty. I pledge that the depart
ment of agriculture will approach the
administration of this law iu that
spirit, and will cooperate heartily with
you to give the people of the nation
full value for the money which they
have pledged under this act."
CRANKS' CONVENTION
IN LOS ANGEjjES
SLEEP ON HAY STACKS
Bunland, Calif., Sept. 2. The queer
est people in the world gathered here
today to indulge in the first "Cranks'
Convention ever held.
Delegates were called to order by
Dr. LeKoy ti. Fry of Los Augeles, wiio
organized the conclave. Every crank
will be given a chance to address the
assemblage of "queer" delegates on
thnt particular theory or subject that
has made a crank of him.
Scores of automobile parties motored
out from Los Angeles and Pussadena
to sit back as spectators, and hear the
funny people talk.
The convention will last several
davs. No limit has been set. Accom
modations were furnished by good;
people of Sunlniid and Little Landers.i
two communities founded ou idealistic!
principles.
Beneath the deep blue heavens and;
stars on a generous shock of yellow
hay the delegates will pass the night.
The hay has been arranged in spaced!
intervals. The delegates will furnish'
their own fare and for those who fail
ed to bring along provender, iuhabi-i
tants of this narrow mountain valley,
will furnish nuts harvested from the!
wild iron nut tree which abounds in;
the valley. The floor of the valley is!
studded with millions of round boulders!
washed down from rocky ravines which!
view from a distance, gives the fantas-i
tie impression of a huge basket of nuts!
having been spilled over the, whole re
giou. I
Some of the more blase of the speci
tators eveu went so far as to refer to.
this place as "Sunny Nutland. "
One of the surprises of the gather
ings was tiiat cranks wheu they get to
gether find they are not cranks at all.
Idealists, fatalists, religionists and
infidels attended in goodly number.
Several models and blue prints of per
petual motion mechatnisms were exhib
ited. Many physical culturists and so
ciologists were here to sav nothing of
"unappreciated authors.' "profes
sors." and prelates of peace and pre
paredness. There were no women cranks al
though feminine delegates were invited
KILLED B7 STREET CAB
SHE HAS HER POINTS
Behold the old pot bellied mare
Who stands besides the stack.
She is not stream-lined anywhere;
She has a sagging bnok.
The hair is worn from her sides
Where tug nnd trace have been;
I'rofound disgust with life abides
About the pendant chin.
Her draggled fetlocks reek 'with mud
iter tail is full of burrs;
No pride of race or purple blood
Or blue grass sires is hers.
Her sturdy pasterns, chaff -bestrewn
Have blemishes galore:
Through -straw-filled mane the breezes
croon,
Each shoulder bears a sore.
But she has never cast a tire;
Her starter always works;
Her spark plug never fails to fire;
Her timer never shirks;
Her oil gunge plunger never sticks;
And ne'er has she. I ween.
Five miles from home, or maybe six,
.nun out or gasoline: txcliauge.
Plan Navigable Channel
From Hudson Bay to
Gulf of Mexico
Bemidji, Minn., Sept. 2. A naviga
ble channel from Hudson Bay to tin
Gulf of Mexico would put the water
that covers l,2o0,000 acres of land near
here in the Gulf, was planned by a com
mittee meeting here today.
A committee of all Minnesota devel
opent association and citizens of Bel
trami county, most seriously effected,
met here. The proposed cost is $25,
000,000. The Mississippi river is navi
igable to St. I'aul and it is planned to
bring the channel of the canal to that
point.
The canal also would pass through, .
the region of Red Lake, the InrcBst
lake in the nation entirely within one"
stnte. This lake gradually slones into
Vast exnnnsps nl Rwnmn lani? mUUi
1 J 1LUUUI
a Shore line and it is rtrimnrilv tn Aru'tn
this huge territory that the canal is.
proposea. niver traffic from the gulf
to VHnnepeg also is to be considered.
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Tncoma. Wash., Sept. 1. Lester L,
Bishop, aged 22. died at a local hospital :
toiiny as a result of m.iunes sustained
when he was knocked from his bicycle
by a street car. At the time of the ac
cident his father was attending a fu
neral. Bishop was a student at a medical
college at McMinnville. Ore. He was
here earning funds to enable him to re
turn to college.
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Spokane Interstate Fair
Annual Grand Symposium of the Industries of the Inland Empire.
Week Sept. 4 to 9
Reduced Round Trip Fares from All Willamette Valley Points on
Oregon Electric Ry.
$16.95 Bound Trip from Salem. Ticket sale, two days only-Sept
3 and 7. Final Beturn Limit Sept. 11. -
VU the superb route of scenery m IT 1 n I n 1
and fine .ervice. -lue North Bank Road
DAILY DOUBLE TRAIN SERVICE "THE INLAND
EMPIRE EXPRESS
TOatv '"k3 9:35, m-' dalIv U the ONLY DAYLIGHT
xkain. with observation parlor care, dining cars and firstdasn
Coaches between Portland and Spokane. Columbia, Snake and
Spokane Bayer scenery. uua
,mZH.BANK LIMITED" leaves Portland 7:10 p. m daily,
!quipmfnt of otionUlirary parlor cars, dining carV!
sleeping cars and coach's. 6
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J. W. Ritchie, Agent,
Salem, Oregon
lj Astoria Begatu and Homecoming OelebrationT September 1-5. j
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