St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-01-25
FOR BETTER ROADS.
Today Will Assemble the
Body From Which Much
Is Expected
In the Way Of Suggesting
the Proper Remedial
Legislation.
The Subject Is Attracting In
terest All Over the
Country,
And the Convention OF Today
Will Voice the Senti-
ment.

The good roads convention that will
meet in the chamber of commerce at 10
O'Clock to-day has for its purpose The
revolutionizing of our present system
Of abominable country wagon roads.
Tue Minnesota division of the League
of American Wheelmen has taken the
initiative in the movement. OF course,
it is naturally interested in an import
ant degree. Each summer long runs"
are taken by the Wheelmen into the
country, going from town to town.
Last year the roads were so nearly i'm
passable, owing to the frequent and
persistent rains, that nothing like rec
ordS of which the performers could he
proud were made. 1t was, perhaps, this
fact that set A. ID. Choat, of Minneap-
oils, and the chief consul of the
Minnesota division of the l.. A. W.,
into thinking mood. Each felt that
some heroic measure should be adopted
to remedy the condition. While the
execrable condition of the public thor
OughfareS works diSaStrously to the
outings and runs by the Wheelmen, Mr..
ChOat maintains that it must be many
fold worse for the farmer or others who
ae obliged to use wagon roads for pub
lie traffic. In one instance the bad
roads interrupt semi-pleaSures and i'll
the other they interfere seriously with
the transit OF products and treights, or
hamper public traffic.
just what the purpose is, in minute
sense, has not yet been worked out.
The main object is to set movement
on foot looking to Il general remedy OF
the evils that exist. But how the end is
to be attained is a reCOndlte problem,
a solution of which the convention is
hardened with.
1t has been incidentally suggested
that a commission be appointed to make
searching investigation with
Conditions That Obtain,
with q view to future remedial meas
urcS. SO far as known this is the first
movement in the direction aimed at in
the states. There is no provision in
MinneSota's constitution for mourning
any Indebtedness for the purposes de-
sired. Therefore 1t is possible that the
legislature will be asked to submit the
matter to a popular vote at the next
general election. That is, the people
will be empowered to vote upon the
proposition as to whether or not a debt
may be contracted for the construction
and maintenance of good roads.
1t is anticipated that fully 200 or more
delegates Will participate in the cOnyen-
ton, and a strenuous effort Will be made
to force the question to practical
issue.
L. l.. HOXie, of ST. Paul, is the Secre-
tary of the committee, Of which A. ID.
Choat is the chairman, and Mr.. HOXie is
brim-full of enthusiastic gossip concern
ing the project. He gives credit to Mir.
Choat for inStituting the movement, and
he asseverates that such a widespread
interest has been excited that there cali
be little doubt that definite action will
be formulated at the convention.
This evening will possibly prove a
feature event of the convention. 1t will
be general session in the hall of the
house of representatives, beginning at
o'clock, and the members of the legiS-
lature are especially invited to attend.
Isaac B. Patton, of New York, the edit
or of the magazine Good Roads, will de-
liver an address. illustrated by StereOp-
tican views, upon the need of good
roads.
At the fall meeting of the Minnesota
division of the l.. A. W. the sum of 500
was voted towards assisting in prOmul-
eating the movement and defraying the
expenses of a commission of inquiry
that will doubtless be asked for. The
attention of the press of the state has
been directed to the import Of the con
vention and its purposes, and a
strong sentiment has already been
worked up throughout the common
wealth.
Convention Programme.
The convention will be called to order
at 10 o'clock this morning by A. d.
Choat, of Minneapolis, and this will be
followed by an address of welcome by
+. G. Ingersoll, who has been detailed
TO act in the capacity Of acting major for
the nouce. Then will follow the per
feeling of an organization, the appoint
ment of such committees aS may seem
eXpedient, etc.
Prof. &. r. Prendergast, of the state
experiment station, will read the first
paper, for there will be a multitudinOuS
array Of these. To him has been dele
gated the duty of presenting a brief
upon Good Roads and Their influence
Upon the Social and Moral Welfare of
the State" This will complete the
morning session.
At2 o'clock in the afternoon Gen. G.
c. Andrews, the eX-consul to Sweden
and Norway, will read paper on Ell
ropean Roads" and papers will follow
sequentially:
"PavementS and Roads in Cities and
Towns" by Assistant Engineer Sub
lette, of Minneapolis.
Relations OF Wagon Roads to Rail
rOads.U bv ], J. Hill, of the Great
Northern railway.
Then follows the general session al
luded to above at the state house in the
evening, beginning at 8 o'clock.
Thursdays programme will begin at
10 a. m. at the chamber Of commerce.
The following papers will be read and
discussed:
The Construction of Dirt and Gravel
Roads," by John ID. EsterbrOok, of st.
Paul, formerly chief highway commits
sioner of Philadelphia.
"Dirt and Gravel Roads, How Main
tanned and Kept in Repair, Width of
Wagon Tires, Etc." by w. S. Chowan,
commissioner Hennepin county.
Good Roads, Their Influence Upon
the Material Welfare of the State" by
Prof. o. G. Gregg, superintendent Of
farmers institutes.
AT 2 o'clock in the afternoon routine
matters will be resumed at the capitol.
The following papers will be read:
"Telford and Macadam Roads Com
pared, and Common Gravel Roads :;
How Constructed and Maintained" by
Rufus Cook, civil engineer, Mime
apOliS.
bad Roads, Causes and Remedies, 1"
by A. B. ChOat, Minneapolis.
AtSp N. one paper will be read, and
then an organization will be perfected.
The paper will be by E. }. Hodgson, of
St Panl. and the title is "Better