The Van Buren press., 1896-01-25
Report Hads to gsY. Clarke ea ths
Important sabisef 81 Coed Roads.

important sabIsef 81 60e1 Roads
From she fgstle Esck Gzzete
The delegates sppointed b Gov.
Clarke 70 attend The road parliament
held At Atlanta. ga. October 1919.
Last, submitted 10 the Governor > very
interesting report teuehing the subiect
Of good roads and the manner IA which
its importance was emphasized IN the
parliament proeeedin2s The delegates
who represented Arkansas at tfs4 meet
ing, and who unite IL the report 70 the
Governor. are A. E MiIlar. q Hendrix
College. Conway J. VI Phillips and s.
~. Mcdowell, of Walnut Ridge. and
3. r Morgan, of Kfngsland. In their
report they recommend The calling of
god roads convention b meet IN Little
Rock February Nth, next.
IL Il proper that the State Of Arkansas
sbouid have the bensHt Of the otserv.
sti0ns Of her representatives hence the
following facts are presented.
/. Among the civilized nations of
the world the United States has the
poorest roads. Few. II any. states in
the Union have poorer roads than
Arkansas.
Q. r. Ia estimated that an average of
~ for every inhabitant Of the United
States is wasted annually on bad roads.
As Arkansas has few railroads and a
large rural population, the country
roads must be used as much ss In any
state hence her average must be equal
10 the general average, and over $500,
900 are annually thrown away that good
roads would save.
3. Wherever In the older states
macadamized roads have been made the
value n adjacent farms has usually
doubled, even In ths vicinity Of rail
roads Much Arkansas land ia unsafe.
able because products cannot be
marketed. With improved roads all
land values would increase and large
tracts Of good but inaccessible land
would DO brought into use and its price
doubled or trebled and a large influx Of
desirable immigrants secured.
4. In old states the change from a
bad system Of roads has been 10
expensive that progress has often been
greatly hindered In sparseIy settled
state like Arkansas where much Of the
land il unfenced and at present Of little
value, a correct system could be intro.
duced at small cost and improvements
could be made under favorable
circumstances hence there should be no
delay In adopting far reaching and
thoroughly practical system.
o. In many states the cost Is 10 great
that the people are deferred from under
taking any Improvement on large
scale. In Arkansas labor is cheap,
materials are abundant and the climate
Ia 40 mild that less material is needed to
carry this rohdbed below frost. and In
many sections water affords cheap
transportation for materials hence while
the usual cost Of macadamizsd roads IL
from VI 900 10 ~ 900 per mile. Arkan.
sas should build first class roads for
$500 10 81 800.
o. In several states the state and
county convicts have been successfully
employed In preparing road materials
and constructing roads. Arkansas
might solve the penitentiary problem by
using her convicts to improve the public
highways.
Z. Long and bitter experience has
proved In nearly every state that such
laws as are now on the statute books
have never secured good roads. and
that. whether road taxes be paid In
labor or money. skilled and practical
supervision IS necessary. hence n
thorough revision Of our laws is a
prerequisite to improved roads. thore.
fore the following suggestions are
offered.
1. Call a Good Roads Convention 10
meet IN Little Rock February 90. 1896.
at I ?. NJ, 10 consider road making
under the present laws, 10 propose new
laws and TO arouse public sentiment In
favor Of forward movement.
2. Request every County Judge 10
attend and appoint five or ten good men
az delegates from his county. Also
invite boards of trade. town councils
and farmers organizations 20 send
representatives aud urge 'he attendance
Of all who are interested In the progress
Of the State.
=. Suggest 20 all delegates that they
send TO uen. Roy Stone. Office of Road
Inquiry, Washington. ID. c.. for
public documents ON good roads,