Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-12-17

al sporting N-ws and NOES
Local ana by - ire.
The Z. a. w. was never in such
---s,.~aus condition in this State as
n present The membership has stead
rr Increased until il almost reaches the
81, mark The annual election OF OIL
Gers for the state Division has just
taken place. Omcers should be chosen
at regular annual meeting, but TINS
v-as found 10 De impracucabie, ana
.,.-- 49, vas taken. Only about one
LsTf ut The members voted. The sue
cessfrl candidates each received 70
,-0+.s v-,f'a there were three scattered
,.ores The newly elected officers are
Chief Consul. c. IT, Geiger, OF WheeI-
f.e. secretary treasurer WI n
Rouohrer of Wheeling. Mr.. GelSer
almost imam nous reelection is d Llel
ited racognftion Of his efforts IN DehaI
OF the League. -.
an acfive mart i'm securing the enact
nert of such laws as have been ADOPT
ed i'm other States which nave proven
beneficial not only 70 themselves OuI
TO the public generally. II Is con
coded fact that the L. a. w. agitation
has done more for good roads than any
other cause. A press committee mas
been appointed. consisting of a. A. Al
len of Charles Town; w. 5. Stevenson
Of Fairmont: Paul p. Lyon. or sisters
vile. and C.. II. Geiger, of Wheeling.
The next West Virginia Legislature
will be asked 70 pass at least three DIS
10 be submitted by the officers OF the
A. W. One provides for a general
bicvc'e law. This has been found nee
ess9rv on account of the fact that
local laws are found TO conflict, and
riders going from one city to another
fra the State are liable TO violate the
law through ignorance Of its proVls-
ions with reference 10 cycling.
broad tire law will also be sub
mi+te5 with a general law looking 10
the improvement of public roads. i ne
nr9Dosed tire law will regulate the
width of tires. This is important as
IL is q recognized fact that nothing IN
lures roads more surely and perma-
ne~t1v than narrow tires. As these are
matters of general interest, 1t IS eN-
pec+e1 that the Legislature Will siVe
Them favorable consideration.
Aprcpos Of the subject Of good and
had -oads. a recent issue OF Bearings
s.
Every little while some new evidence
crops out showing the progress toward
the ultimate redemption Of the roads IN
Ills country. as q result of the cam
pa.gn of education inaUSurated by COL
Cnel P0De. some significant figures
have recently been issued by the De
rartment of Agriculture, as q result or
education Just completed. relative TO
the usa of common roads in the United
States.
Returns have been received from
about 200 counties, showing the aV-
erage length of haul from farms 10
markets. or shipping points, 70 De
twelve miles: the average WelGht OF
load for two horses. 1000 pounds; and
the average cost per ton per mile, %
cents. or $500 for the entire load. Al
lowing conservative estimates for ton
ner- Of ali kinds carried over pubic
roads. The aggregate expense of this
trque0ortation is figured ct S9i6,4l4,6OO
per mum.
These figures appear enormous, but
are of q little value without some ba-
sis OF comparison. Accordingly, re-
r.-Ie have been asked from the United
-tes cOrsuls abroad as 10 the eX-
perse Of hauling where tie roads are
good bending the result of this in
formation g. is. Of course impossible
10 arrive at any satisfactory idea as TO
how much eff the .rea- cost In this coun-
Inv rs due 90 bad roads. but it is be-
reved hv those i'm position 10 Judge
that fully rwO--hirds OF the amount
or SG3' $4,000. could be saved II the
roads were in reasonably good condl-
ton.
To anaIyze these figures from a prac-
teal standpoint sUpposine six hun
dred and thirty millions or doilars-tne
saving Of one ya8r-were expended In
irproviug the roads Of this country
not ONLY would il be lasting benefit
but decidedly profitable investment
AT $4,000 per mile 1880 miles OF
road could be nut In condition. Nov
fl is hardly to be expected that so vast
q sum viii be expended for such NOBLE
work. at least all 20 once. for IL seems
as ifin an public work the save at-tAe-
spCvt-cnd-w Ihe-eDigOt policy
must De pursued. But if such compari-
sons can only be made 10 dwell in the
public MIND for little time. 1t is not
unreasonable 20 expect that in the not
far distant future our farming popula-
zion esuelially viii wonder how it en-
Curcd such evils for so long time
C,r pona undertook an immense work