The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-27

TIE frsr good roads convention ever
he'd in the state OF Washington VIII con-
veae II the rooms Of the Seattle Chamber
OF Commerce or Monday morning next ~
10 O'Clock.
This convention Is the outgrowJh Of
movement gtlch haa It's init awe az tie
meeting OF the State Da.rymen's Assoc.a-
tton held IN Tacoma some three weeks age.
Al that meeting the question Of taking
some steps 70 set on foot a movement Tor
the building OF good roads Throughout the
rural districts Ct the sEate was discussed,
and as result committee was appointed
30 take steps FOR the calling or a conven-
son OF all persons Interested in good
rcaas, the convention 10 be held al some
suitable place, preferably Seattle.
The committee thus appointed consisted
OF James Hart, Of Auburn. IN this county,
ex-Prosecuting Attorney Conner. OF Pierce
county. ana ". Woods, OF Sumner. for
merry county surveyor Of Pierce county.
tbs committee or December is last lad
the matter before the Seattle Chamber OF
Commerce. which cordially approved me
scheme Monday December =. was Sc
Iected as the date for the meeting. The
rooms Of the chamber were donated for
Ghe occasion, and the following members
were selected 10 sit as representatives or
the chamber and 20 render such fur-ner
assistance as might be necessary in max
4
art, W. @. Armstrong. &. +. Burnside and
G. o. Halter. from the committee on roads,
streets and parks, and W. ID. Wood.
George W. Donworth, W. A Peters, 5. L.
Williams and Frank Hanford, from the
committee on legislation.
Delegations have been invited from all
organized bodies of the following classes:
Boards Of county commissioners, boards
OF trade, chambers Of commerce. bicycle
and wheelmen's associa lions and agr.cul-
tural and horticultural associations.
judging from replies which have been
received. it = quite probable that the at
tendance VIII be large and representative
and that the movement in favor of good
roads will receive considerable impetus
from the result OF Their deliberations. 1t
is quite Likely that some legislation VIII
be outlined for presentation TO the legisIa-
ture at ITS fortheoming session.
The agitation for good roads has taken
a firm hold on the state of Wisconsin, and
it is liable TO lead 10 a successful issue
At Milwaukee recently a banquet was
given in honor Of Gen. Roy Stone. of the
United States depar enent OF agriculture,
who IS national cha NIPPON OF good roads.
Splendid and practical speeches were
made by Gen. Stone, Editor S5ahl, Super
intendent Mckerrow. Gov. Hoard, A.
Cressey Morrison, c. C. Rogers, ex-Mayor
Rogers, OF Madison; Otto Dorner. Editor
E. W. Coleman, III. A. Briggs. of Elkhorn;
Assembiyman Mosher. of Racine county;
w. ". Pollock, II. b. Wilkins and others.
Probably the most practical speech OF the
evening. showing the necessity OF good
roads and how 10 obtain them, was made
by the secretary of the Wisconsin League
for Good Roads. Here IS portion OF his
speech:
We raise In Wisconsin each year about
100000 tons OF oats, coo. go tons OF corn
and enough wheat and barley to make
another three-fourths Of million tons
total of 2.G50. eco tons, not to mention
other products. such As hay. potatoes, rye
and tobacco, all Of which amount TO con-
siderable. The COST OF marketing this at
s. per ton is s.. go. coo Dwo-thirds OF this
Is $4,000. tremendous amount. which
might be saved in Wisconsin alone on oats.
corn, wheat and barley. and that year
after year.
II think the time has passed when ii Is
necessary TO argue that ii pays 10 build
good roads. l think II Is no longer neces-
sary 10 prove that the money invested In
a dura BILE highway Is well spent any more
than il is necessary TO argue that the
farmer does well TO invest his money in
a seeder or 10 purchase one OF the latest
improved binders. Coed roads have paid
for themselves in Europe: then have paid
for themselves in New Jersey; they have
paid for themselves in Massachusetts, and
New York they have paid for themselves
wherever they have been properly and
care OF. Gentlemen VINO have made a stu
dy of the subject have told us. as a result
of their investigations. that 1t costs our
farmers, on an average, little over s. per
ton to market their produce. ard that fully
two-thirds Of this s. per ton might be
saved by the construction of good roads.
This amounts 10 a great deal. but 1 viii
give you little example from nv own
state OF Wisconsin as an illustration.
we all know the difficulties that make
communication In the country dependent
upon the weather. We have all known a
farmer anxious 70 bring his grain 10 town
in the spring, when prices were high. and
when he had the time. but who was
obliged 10 sit patiently at home waiting
for his DIS TO cry up. He has gooG
market AT hand within few miles. his
grain Is in the granary ready for disposal,
his wagon In the shed and his horses In
the barn idle, costing him Just $50 much
per day for food. and all stalled on the
farm by the bottomlessness Of the road he
must travel. PrtCes 20 higher ana higher
as the supply in the cities is diminished.
and the farmer grows uneasy. Just as
soon as the warm spring sunshine has
made the roads half paSsable. there IS
stampede OF all the farmers In the neigh
borhood, each trying to get his crop 20
market before the otaer and before prices
change. but day or two OF this market
ing OF grain brings such an abundant sup
ply that prices drop and many return
home disappointed.
a great many plans have been suggest
ed by which IL could be made possible 70
improve the roads throughout the country.
all az them more or less visionary ard i'm
practicable. But there are one or two
changes and improvements which might
be made in our present system Of road
construction. which / think are practical
and economical.
FIRST and foremost among these ~ the
plan q a state tax Tor road purposes This
IS not to be levied fOr tha sake OF bam-
booxIng She farmer into paving mere
taxes fer road purposes. hut for the pur-
poso of getting the large cities 20 paw a
part u the expense OF building country
roads. IL IS uulmp0rta3t whether state
commission BE- established 20 build r0aGs
where they are most needed or whether
the money raised ira this way be apgor-
toned out - the countries or 10 the towns
70 he expended with the local taxes Ia the
construction o. highways. which are really
durable, and which make travelling easy.
Massachusetts nas levied stFcss n state road
tax Tor several years. New Jersey has
done - for "A bong time New York win
undoubtedly provide for such q tax this
winter. Pennsylvania. I believe. has cone
something 81 thar direction. and practical
experience has shown that this pan Of
raising money e Is most successful and e.
faCtiye one. and makes & possible 20 PEP
pFauently Improve farm roads without