The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-10-18
THE PRESENT PURPOSE OF SIT.
PAUL WHEEI,MEN ANENT GOOD
ROADS.
QUESTIONS ARE PREPARED
ALL NOMINEES FOR LEGISLA-
TIVE OFFICE.
CYCLE PATHS AND HIGHWAYS
to BE Derived From the Agi-
tatiOn.

Representatives of the various ST.
Paul bicycle clubs met in the Office of
A. B. Ovitt, 1908 Pioneer Press building,
yesterday afternoon and passed the fol-
/ lowing resolutions pertaining to good
roads:
Resolved That the state of Minnesota needs
good roads commission and law similar
to the law of New Jersey, granting state aid
to such counties as will build roads according
to specifications furnished by the state COM
missioners.
Resolved That the wheelmen of the state
are requested to PROFOUND to the various can
didates for the legislature the following ques-
tons, and vote for those only who will vote
for good roads:
1. VIII you vote for the appointment of
state road commissioners?
2. VIII you vote for bill granting a limit
ed sum per annum as state aid to such towns
and counties will raise 60 per cent of the
money necessary to build roads, under the
direction of such commissioners, and for
constitutional amendment, if one is found to
be necessary, in order to carry out this pur-
pose?
8. Will you vote for bill appropriating
cycle paths?
4. win you favor bill providing penalty
for using cycle paths by others than wheel
men and pedestrians?
Resolved, That a convention of all the
wheelmen in the state be held Dec. o. at the
Ryan hotel, in st. Paul. and all bicycle clubs
Resolved, That A. B. Choate, of Minneap-
oils; Carl Taylor, of st. Paul; j. I. Wilson,
of Winona, and ]. B. Cotton, of Duluth. be,
and they are hereby appointed a committee
on legislation to prepare bills for discussion
at the convention to be held Dec. 22
The action of the bicycle clubs means
that thousands of people throughout
the state are alive to the question of
good roads, not only to make new is
sue in the coming legislative campaign,
but to also carry their project to a ter
mination, so far as the enactment Of
an acceptable law is concerned at this
winters session Of the legislature, if
such course be possible. The advent
of the cycle path, it is claimed, was a
step in the right direction, and it is
said that the opposition which was at
first manifested against wheelmen on
the part of farmers generally, has been
in measure overcome by this agency.
Even now the farmers are using the
cycle paths themselves in going to and
from stores and postoffices, preferring
to walk the distances along the smooth
path instead of troubling themselves
to hitch up their teams. 1t is asserted
that the virtue of the cycle path has
done great deal toward dispelling the
opposition Of the farmer and that now
they are beginning to regard the wheel
men in the light of benefactors, and
stand ready to assist them in their
efforts to procure good roads.
The New Jersey law, to which refer
ence is made In the resolutions adopt
ed yesterday, is regarded by those COM
petent to judge as the best good roads
enactment upon the statute books of
any state in the Union. In it's modified
form, 1t has been in effect for three
or four years, and in addition to pro-
viding Ideal conditions for wheelmen,
1t is said that the farmers of the state
are so well pleased with it's workings,
that appropriations for the cause of
good roads cannot be made rapidly
enough to suit them. The law provides
for the appointment Of good roads
commissioners at large throughout the
state whose duties shall be to super
wise the building of all roads. These
officials may or may not be paid a
salary as the resources at the command
of the good roads cause may warrant
In reality, there appears to be no need
that they be salaried officials as the
law provides for the appointment by
the commissioners Of an expert super
visor who has immediate and full
charge of road building. This official
is appointed for number of years and
1t is his duty to thoroughly canvass
the state for the purpose of ascertain
ing what kind of material is available
for roads, the minimum cost at which
it can be secured and the best and
cheapest kind of road to build His
knowledge thus gained, it is claimed.
makes the expert one who can build
the best roads at the least COST, and
while acting under a commission there
need not necessarily be any expense
attached to the maintenance of such
a board. In defraying the cost of the
roads, the law apportions the amount
in such ratio that 1t is said less of
the expense falls upon the individual.
township nd fot +Ha
yious to its enactment. Under its oper-
alton the township pays 10 per cent,
the county 35 per cent and the state 40
per cent. By this apportionment the
cities Of the different counties defray
most of the county assessment while
the state at large pays it's share, leav-
ing simply the township assessment to
fall upon the shoulders of the farmer.
State Senator Ozmun, in speaking of
the matter yesterday, said: '1 hearth
ly indorse the resolution adopted by
the cycle clubs in favor Of good roads,
and will do all in my power to aid the
cause in the senate. I have given the
good roads laws Of the different states
considerable attention, and l am of
the opinion that the law of New Jer-
sey is by far the most desirable of any.
In addition to this, / have Travelled the
roads of Union county, N. j., where
the best results of the law are apprecf-
able, and l found them fully equal In
construction to the roads of Europe,
which are admitted to be excellent,
They are macadam roads built upon a
stone foundation and their durability
is said to be beyond question, while
the matter of keeping them in condition
is an item of small expense"
At the meeting yesterday afternoon,
letter was read from A. B. Choate
of Minneapolis, stating that he was
heartily in favor of the proposed plan
and that he would bring the matter to
the attention of the cyclists Of the
Mill City.