Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-18
THE GOOD ROADS CONVENTION.
Interesting Business Transacted ut Its See
sion Today.
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES ADoPrED-rHANKs
GIVEN FOR SUPPORT TO THE MovKxENT--As-
srsrANcE TO BE ASKED FROM THE GOVERN
xESr-sEoRErARY RusK GIVES A TALK.

| HENI-SECRETARN RCSk GIVES A TALK.
In calling the good roads convention TO order
Col. johnson said that it was deemed desirable
to close the convention with the session this
afternoon and therefore expedition would be a
| good feature to markthe transaction Of bust
ness.
| The secretary, Mr.. Stone. read n communics-
ton from Mr.. Hill, the secretary of the national
board OF trade, now in session at the Shoreham,
stating that the privileges Of the floor during
| the discussion of the subject Of improving the
roads had been extended to the members of the
good roads convention.
! On motion the executive committee was au-
thorized TO represent the convention at the
meeting of the board Of trade.
TIE COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS.
The convention then listened to the report of
the various committees. The first one pre-
sented was from the committee on resolutions,
! presented by the chairman. Gen. Post The
first resolution expressed appreciation for the
service rendered by the press Of the country in
/ the cause Of good roads. The second resolution
favored the making of reads and their main
tenance with the end in viw of the utmost good
for the whole people, and that as far rs possible
scientific methods should prevail. and the bust
ness OF road making be separated from partisan
acuon In other words that II be put on prac-
ticai instead of political basis
The next resolution defined the political
principles OF the league being opposed TO
any one opposed to legislation in favor of good
roads.
The colleges of agriculture and mechanics
resolution to make speciality Of thorough in
! structlon, scientific and practical, in the con-
! struct:on and maintenance of good roads. 1t
! was also agreed that investigation and popular
demonstration of the value OF road making ma
terial. &c, are desirable subjects for the agri-
cultural experiment stations
The league also Endorsed the bill introduced
/ by Mr.. Post of Illinois in the House. authoriz-
| Ing the director of the geological survey to ex-
tend the scope OF the topographic surveys so as
to include the collection of information in re-
! gard to the improvement Of roads.
resolution in favor of offering a recognition
prize of life membership by the legion for
the best ESSAYS on the subject of good roads
road making, &c. This resolution was refer
red to the executive committee.
Thanks were also extended to Mr.. John F.
Chamberlain for the accommodations furnished
the convention.
LEGISLATION RECOMMENDED.
The report Of the committee Oh legislation,
of which Senator Chandler is chairman, was
presented in his absence by Assistant Secretary
Wi!litts of the Agricultural Department. This
report recommends that application be made
| to Congress for a charter for the league and
that In the meantime an organization be made
under charter from one of the states this
organization to be merged in the national COM
pany when the same is Incorporated. 1t also
recommends that an appropriation of els. 900
be asked of Congress to enable the Secretary of
Agriculture to make a general inquiry
into the condition of highways in this
country and the laws. means and methods
Tor their improvement and to make reports
| thereon to aid in making this inquiry, and that
highway commission to be composed OF six
citizens be appointed by the President to serve
without compensation. The committee also
recommends the adoption of the following:
Resolved, That this committee of the National
| League for Good Roads, representing twenty
states requests of Congress that large number
OF consular reports on roads in foreign countries
published by the Department of State are
printed for popular distribution. The report
| also recommends that a committee of ten be
appointed to frame q bill to present to Con-
gress authorizing national aid in the building
and maintaining Of country roads throughout
the states and territories of the Union: that the
president Of the association shall be the chairman.
OF this committee, and that the committee shall
push its work until further orders from this
| association.
AN EXHIBIT AT THE WORLDS FAIR.
The report of the committee on worlds fair
priation Of $50 900 to enable a complete ex-
hibit at the far of methods of road making,
materials, &c.
A resolution was presented providing for the
appointment of a committee of ten to frame a
bill to present to Congress authorizing material
aid in the building and maintaining country
roads throughout the states.
SOME LITTLE DISCUSSION.
This resolution gave rise to discussion, espe-
cially in the light Of the report of the commit
tee on resolutions recommending that no action
be taken on this resolution.
One of the delegates expressed opposition to
asking Congress for any aid. 1t was expected
that the people would raise the money for i'm
proving the roads
Mr.. Jackson of Richmond, Va, however, was
OF the opinion that there could be no objection
to the government assisting sections of the
country that were unable to raise the money
If the government could get all the money it
wanted at 2 per cent he saw no reason why it
could not loan money at % per cent to enable
poor counties to undertake the WORK of improv-
ing the roads.
Col. Hinton also spoke in favor of govern
ment aid and then the convention adopted the
| resolution Of the committee.
SECRETARY RUsK's ADDRESS
Secretary Rusk. who came in, was invited to
speak. He responded and spoke warmly and
heartily Of the movement to improve the con-
dition of the country roads. He dwelt upon
the Importance Of this subject and said in his
opinion, it was proper for Congress to appro-
pirate money to gather information.
THE AFTERNOON SESSION.
At the afternoon session the discussion of the
various phases of the subject was participated
in by Capt. Brown of Cape Charles. Va; L. W.
Ledyard of New York, j. F. Jackson, John A.
c. Wright Of Rochester. Mr.. Crump of Bowling
Green, Kv.; Prof. Hamlin Of Maine, Mr. Hoard
Of Minnesota and others. The chair announced
the appointment OF the following committees:
On extending the league Richard Church of
New York, Gen. Elisha Dyer of Rhode Island
and John A. G. Wright Of New York
On legislation-William Z. Chandler of New
Hampshire, b. Howard Hannah Of MARYLAND. A.
C. Durborow of Illinois, Edwin Willis of Mich
igan, Maj. Alvord of Virginia and Col. c. W.
johnson Of Minnesota.
Revision of constitution Chauncsy B. Rap
ley OF New Jersey, Grstave Luermand of Mary
land, Gov. ID. Russell Brown of Rhode Island.
Gov. Levi K. Fuller Of Vermont and Gen. Row
Stone of New York.
On finance-E 4. Rowland, A. T. Gillender.
Winthorp Chanler and James NJ Waterbury of
New York and William H. r. Mann of PhiladeI-
phia.
On resolutions-Gen. Post, Mr.. Jackson of
Virginia and Mr.. Wright Of New York.
committee, consisting Of Gen. Stone. DR..