Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-17
A GROWING REFORM.
The Movement in Favor Of Good
Roads.
THE CONVENTION TODAY.
A Representative Gathering Of Delegates to
Attend the Convention of the National
League for Good Roads-The Topics Dis
cussed.

| this city for some time assembled this morn
| ing at Chamberlains. 1t is practically tn,
/ first session of the National League o
Good Roads and the beginning of
movement which those interested hops
/ will result in an effort, national in character
/ to improve the system OF highways in this
country. The first general meeting of the
/ friends Of good roads ever held took place last
/ October in Chicago. A preliminary organi
cation was then formed with Senator
/ Manderson ut its head. At the present session
/ 1t is expected to form n permanent organiza
| ticu. Those who attended the sessions today
were rs representative a set of men one Ii
likely TO find. Thew came from all classes and rep
resent d nearly al interests. but they are moved
with one desire. which Is entirely an unselfish
/ one. TO make an improvement in the roads OF
/ the country. just how that is TO be done is
not definitely known, except that all believe in
carving on . campaign of education, on the
| principle that when the attention of the people
/ Is once aroused the hoped for improvements in
| the roads will follow.
SENATOR NANDERsoN's REMARKS.
A few minutes after II o'clock the president.
Senator Henderson. raped for order and then
made little speech. lie said the convention
had been called for the purpose Of advancing
the cause Of good roads. He Congratulated the
cause that such representative body could be
assembled. He said that in this organization.
crude il is in its present form, there were no
indications of a selfish purpose.
The agitation for good roads had been going
! on for some time. but it had assumed no tangi-
BILE shape. Last fall it was thought wise to take
advantage of the crowds at the worlds fair to
cali a mass convention of those interested. This
convention was held and then WAS formed what
Is known as the temporary organization of the
National League of Good Roads. constitu-
trnr1 he mid oAn tod hi.h Aat,bt "a
capable OF Improvement. Since then steps
have been taken to establish permanent
organization and it was thought best to do
that through state organizations and the dele
gates chosen by such organizations could estab-
lish a permanent organization.
The second convention was called at this time
because here the national board of trade was
meeting and other organizations, the members
of which we're interested in this subject. Sem
stor Henderson said that there was no need to
say anything of the Importance OF this
matter. What had already been done in the
way of agitation had produced good results and
there was no doubt a general interest aroused
on the subject. He referred to a move
ment toward securing good roads leading
into Omaha and also In New York state. There
seemed to him two directions in which the
deliberations of the convention could be di-
rected; first to the needed legislation and
second as to the best means of CARRYING on the
campaign of education. He said that bill for the
appointment of a good roads commission had
passed the Senate and had been reported to
the House, where it was now pending.
THE sEcRErARYs REPORT.
A report of what had been done since the
last meeting was made by Gen. Roy Stone, the
secretary. He said that state organization
had been completed in Illinois and elsewhere
and in some OF the states county organiza-
tions had been formed. he said that the objects
IA a-1ftf
bat much was being done in the way of educa-
ton. He recommended that the Ieague be in
eorporated in order to facilitate its business
An important matter that was being
considered by the board. he stated, was a
proper exhibit to be made at the Chicago fair He
also stated that 5000 copies of the proceedings
Of the last convention had been printed for dis
tribution, also copies of instructions for
forming auxiliary leagues. Communications
had Also been sent to wagon manufacturers.
bank cashiers and the various railroads inviting
cooperation in farming auxilaries. He
said that come $4,000 had been contributed,
which had been nearly all expended.
On motion OF Gen. Stone q committee on order
Of business consisting Of Mr.. Jackson of Vir-
ginis. Mr.. Dervey of New York, and Mr.. Ham,
lin Of Maine was appointed.
THE SENATOR FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Senator Chandler was called on to say some
thing about necessary legislation. He said that
he attended the convention at the request of
the governor Of New Hampshire, VINO had recently
been inaugurated. Like his two predecessors the
new governor was taking great interest in the
subject OF good roads. In New Hampshire the
matter was naturally connected with that of the
forests. 1t Is the desire to preserve the
attractive features of the State which
we're admired each year by tourists
and to do this not only were good roads n es
sary, but the destruction Of the forests must be
stopped in order to preserve the water
courses. rest league was estab-
lished and it had taken up this
matter of good roads. One change purposed
by the league of his state was to do away with
the custom OF allowing the tax payers to work
out their taxes on the roads. The result of this
system tina, the roads did not get the full bene
hit OF the money raised by taxation. The people
of his state would be glad to receive suggestions
from this convention. New Hampshire. he
said, Is ready to do its part and her representa-
tiyes IN Congress are ready to further any leg
isla;ion that may seem to be necessary.
NATIONAL ROAD COMMISSION.
He thought that one advantage fog this or
ganizatioa would be the agitation of the sub
jec. and the dissemination OF tine facts bear
ing on good road making through the press
He was OF the opinion that either national
road commission should be appointed or else
the Secretary of Agriculture might be IN
structed to investigate the matter and report
the needs 20 Congress. He assured the dele
gates that they would not find Congress either
slow in acting or indifferent to any reasonable
proposition that might be made. He quoted
Secretary of state Seward saying that you
can measure the civilization Of people by the
character of its roads. In this country We have
come to depend on the railroads and have
neglected. one system OF highways. He be-
hesed that the bicycle riders were doing great
deal to call attention to the condition OF the
roads. He was glad to hear that the railroad