| OCR Text |
Show COST OF ROAD IMPROVEMENT Federal Roads Bill Shifts Part of Burden From Farmer to City Resident Resi-dent Interesting Figures. That federal aid will shift part of the burden of road improvement from the farmer to the city resident, is clearly shown by the report of the joint congressional committee prepared pre-pared by Hon. Jonathan Bourne, Jr., chairman. Farmers will be particularly particu-larly interested in the figures presented. present-ed. Bourne shows that since national revenues are derived from indirect taxes, contributions to national funds are practically in proportion to population. pop-ulation. While census reports show that less than half of the people reside in cities of 2,500 or more, the fact is that most residents of cities of 2,-500 2,-500 and less are in reality city residents. resi-dents. Out of 15.963.9G5 families. 5,-689,838 5,-689,838 reside on farms. Of 38,167,336 persons engaged in gainful occupations, occupa-tions, 12,659,203 are engaged in agri-culture, agri-culture, forestry and animal bus- Sky Line Drive One of Most Picturesque Pic-turesque and Spectacular Roads in West It Is Built Along the Top of a Ridge 800 Feet Above Canon City, Colo. bandry. Other statistics also show that only about one-third of the total population is rural. Therefore, it is clear that under federal aid about two-thirds of the national fund would be contributed by city residents while all of it would be spent for improvement of rural roads. "It should be remarked in this con nection," says the report, "that although al-though the burden of national participation partic-ipation in highway improvement would fall most heavily upon city residents, resi-dents, yet inhabitants of cities have-been have-been among the most active advocates ot federal participation in highway construction and maintenance. While the merchant, the manufacturer, the professional man and the wage earner earn-er ol the city are only indirectly interested, in-terested, they appreciate the value of good roads to the community and recognize rec-ognize the indirect benefit they will enjoy." The report, printed as house document docu-ment 1510, contains the most exten sive collection of data on good roads ever gathered in one volume. Any person desiring a copy should write to his senator or congressman. |
