The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-01-22
WHEELMEN RALLY.
Large and Interesting Meeting Last
Evening.

DottcT LOT 1OIbldAu IbO '"UOJSS"
Chief Consul Marrett Announces the
Purposes of the Gathering-Secretary
Richardson Tells of the Commissions
Good Work-Mr. EIwelfs Views.
The rally of the wheelmen of Portland in
favor of good roads, Monday evening, was
great success. The wheelmen and those In
terested in the improvement of the clty's
streets, made up audience that filled he
ception.hall. A stereopticon was fitted up
to enable Mr.. Frank II. Eiwell TO give one
of the most interesting features of the eve
ming, the views of good roads.
1t was about eight o'clock when
CHIEF CONSUL J. A. MARRETT
called the meeting to orde ). max ng the fol-
lowing address:
Gentlemen:
This is meeting of wheelmen called
to endorse the bill before the city gov
eminent asking the legislature to estab-
liSh a commission of streets and sewers
in the city of Portland, which commits
sion has been in work nearly year under
city ordinance.
1t has been asked: "Why should the
Wheelmen take such an interest IN the
subject?" and Is not their interest from
purely selfish motive?
The League OF American Wheelmen is
an organization mum bering upward OF
80, 900 linen. Section 2 of its constitution
reads: Its objects shall be to promote
the general interest OF cy cling; to ascer-
tain, defend and protect the rights OF
wheelmen; to facilitate touring and to
secure Improvement in the condition OF
the public roads and highways" Does
it live up Co it's principles? Here are
few of its acts relating to the ROADS:
ID The League publishes and main
tains at it's own expense Magazine OF
Good Roads, with circulation OF 50,oOo
copies monthly. and of which SO eminent
a man rs Gov VIM. Mckinley writes: Il
am interested in the course of highway
Improvement, and appreciate the good
work which is being done by the GOOD
Roads Magazine"
(2) At the solicitation of the League
there has been esta blished in the Depart
ment of Agriculture at Washington,
Bureau for the collection, printing and
free distribution of material relating to
the improvement of the. highways of the
United States.
~ In New Jersey, through the
efforts of the League there has been built
fine system OF Macadam highways,
one of which, posi- oily the first. was con-
structed only after the county had been
indicted for maintaining: dangerous
| TOHu, anu dlOuR WulCu lol Ling AoANS
increasd in taxable value from $50 TO
$500 an acre after construction.
"a In Massachusetts,, through League
perseverance ana push, there has been
created recently State Highway Com
mission for the purpose OF extending
throughout the commonwealth the fine
system of Macadam roads that makes
the suburbs of Boston so attractive and
so valuable.
Examples of League work for the pub
lie good might be multiplied, but suffice
it to say that in nearly every State in the
Union the wheelmen are active in the
movement.
These, gentlemen, are four of the
reasons why the wheelment of this city
are interested in movement that prom,
ises an improvement in the streets OF
Portland: and the statemen of them is
REPUTATION of the insinuation that our
interest is selfish interest.
There is no sensible argument In favor
of poor road, not even the plea of
economy; for it can be demonstrated be-
You'd any question that it costs more to
build and maintain poor road than u
costs to build and maintain good road,
given term of years, and not very
long term either. If there is no argu-
ment in favor of a poor road, then there
is no reason for maintaining system
that perpetuates only poor roads. One
of the requisites of good road is 1ntell1-
gent use of materials at hand. No road
worthy the name can be built by men
who do not understand the art, for road
building is an art, and no man has the
art but the one who has been educated
up to it. Had not this fact been recog-
nized, Massachusetts,, New York, New
Jersey, and certain lerge cities, of the
Union with their magnificent boulevards
would today afford their citizens the
r. Ii FL, <l,H oo
have been afforded the citizens of Port
land where political pullers and ward
heelers are trying to down the rising in
telligence of the people. 1t seems to me
that it is time for the League of Ameri-
can Wheelmen to begin campaign in
the State of Maine for the enlightenment
of the politicians. Does anyone suppose
that the superb roads of Europe were
built by carpenters or mllkmen? They
were built by engineers, and everywhele
that a system of roads is maintained an
engineer is at the head, a man whose
education and training enable him prop
erly to build, grade and drain a road
| that shall stand the frosts and SHOWS
of winter and the rains and heat OF
summer. And people who say that
such roads cannot be built here don't
| know. All wheelmen are not practical
road builders, but every man who rides
| a bicycle knows a good road when be
| sees 1t. He rides over the roads with his
ewes open, because if he shuts them he
comes to grief; and if you want to know
the condition of a certain street or coun-
| try road, End wheelman who rides owe,
| it and the information you get will be
| reliable. / almost think any Portland
wheelman can give DR.. Gordon points on
| the back alleys. The wheelmen of Port.
land know the condition of Portland
streets and they know from experience
| that they can be improved. Opposition
| arguments we take for what they are
| worth. When we hear it stated, as was
| done 10 this hall last Monday night,
| that our streets are in good condition.
we smile; and when we hear gentle
man of unusual intelligence and great
| ability and influence say that owing to
| the steep grades Portland streets cannot
| be macadamized SO as not to wash out,
| we are amazed and wonder what is com.
| ing next. We know better than that
| We know that any street, however steep
that will admit the passage over it of {
| horse and carriage can be macadamizei
so as to be as impervious to the rains as
| is ducks back to the summers dew
| And my friend Elwell can tell you OF
| macadamized roads in Europe so steep az
| to prove terror to anyone in this hal
| who should attempt to drive down them
/ ava which have StOO6 for scoraS n