The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-11

Chairman Isaac b. Potter Of New York
next addressed the meeting briefly, say
Ing: "New York has "a votes and numer-
Gus proxies, and we intend 10 cast them
for the city which makes the best showing
ut these sessions. Both Louisville and
Toledo arc evenly represented here, ~
our vote, Of course, Is still in allegiance.
The attendance Is not as great rs IL should
be, but IL Is twice rs great as was the at
tendance at the good roads ~
called by the United States government,
and which was more widely advertised
than was this convention. The delegates
here, however, represent 10000 wheelmen,
and what t%ranspires here will be more
~far-reaching In It's effects than was the
action Of the good roads congress re-
ferred to-"
Mr.. Potter then introduced Mayor Ken
nedy Of Allegheny City. Pa, one of tho
most prominent advocates OF good roads
In the country, and during whose admin
~istration Allegheny City has changed
from an ~ill.payed, ill-kept city to one OF the
finest In the country. Mayor Kennedy
spoke Of what had been done In the way
Of improved streets and roads In and
around Allegheny City, and OF the many
direct and indirect benefits.
Following Mayor Kennedy, Henry w.
williams, chairman of the legislative
committee Of the Maryland Good Roads
league, was introduced. He said: IF I
told you OF the work we had done, IL
would take but n short time; but II I tell
you of what we have to do, / I'm afraid 1
would never get through" Mr.. Williams
gave n history Of tho birth Of the Good
Roads league OF Maryland and the ap-
pointment OF n Legislative committee, OF
which he was made chairman.
Handicapped by Politicians.
"we did considerable work." he said,
"throughout the state, and the result I
consider both good and bad. Through our
work we reused up the opposition OF politi-
clans, and they have been against us wher-
ever possible, but the agitation has at
length compelled these same politicians
and county commissioners to make some
slight concessions to public opinion, and
VIZ have the pleasure OF seeing n slight
Improvement in the general road system
of the state. We have now prepared "a
bill which we expect to gct before the leg
islature for the appointment of u perina.
nent road commission To oversee In gem
eral the road improvements ~throughout
the state. An expert engineer is 10 be o
member Of this commission, and his
knowledge Is to be put ut tho disposal Of
she local county road commissioners We
predict n bright future for the good roads
movement iE Maryland"
ID. =. Miller, chairman OF the board Of
commissioners OF Allegheny county. de-
livercd u short address telling OF tho work
accomplished by his confreres and himself
In western Maryland. He approves Of
GOOD roads, and said that IL the farmers
were enlightened rs TO the benefits to be
derived from improved highways, all OPP
position that now exists would DO wiped
away.
Both President Wilson and Sterling
Elliott delivered brief addresses and put
themselves firmly on tho good roads
plank.
Tho principal speaker ut the afternoon
session was General Stone OF tho United
States bureau of roal inquiry, who said
In part: "Thc wheclmen should help to
encourage the farmers who arc i'm hard
luck by joining them In securing good
ronds. Make the farmers see that good
roads will make the city people want to
live In the country and will make them
live there.
'"rhe government can and will do much"
said Inc, when we have "A national govern.
mont highway commission That com
mission cNr, by visits To different parts of
states, gain "A great influence in the road
building line.
state mid To local efforts is doing rood
work. No state is too poor 10 help local.
ties that Will show an effort To- help them.
selves. TEc whcelmcn can cooperate with
the government by having conyicts work
IN quarries tn crush the stone"
The days exercises closed with n ban.
quet last night &C the homo of tho Mary
land Bicycle club, at which almost POI
delegates and othcr guests were present