Birmingham state herald., 1897-02-04
STATE GOOD ROAD LEAGUES Warmly Endorsed By Congres
 In a Resolution WITH COUNTY LEAGUES To Aid the League Mas tes In the Work Be-
 fore im, SOME VERY ABuE.S EXCURSIONS MADE
 7S- By Members From ferent states-Perm. anent organiz ial n Effected With Gen. Roy SN-se, of Washing
 ton, D. O., as President.
WITH COUNTY LEAGUES
To Aid the League MaS les In the Work Be-

Orlando, Fla, Feb. 3-The national good roads congress met at the opera house at a. m., and was called to or der by W. A. White in the absence of Dr. Foster. Rev. F. D. Hunt, of San ford, opened the session with prayer. The following permanent organization was effected:
 Gen. Roy Stone, of Washington, D. C., president; Col. F. W. Merlin, Plant City, Fla, vice-president; T. J. Apple yard, Sanford, Fla, secretary; W. A. White, Orlando, Fla, assistant secretary.
 The committee on programme reported in favor of topical discussion, rather than general, and suggested as the first sub ject for today: Road Legislation" the discussion to be led by H. W. Anderson, of Virginia.
 Second, "Co-operation In Building and Best Methods and Material In Construct ing Roads," to be led by Gen. Roy Stone.
 Third, "The Best Method of Arousng Public Interest and Educating the Public Mind On the Subject of Good Roads, to be led by w. M. Bennett, of Lake county, Florida.
 Gen. Stone was introduced by w. H. Anderson, who, although a very young man, is at the head of the good roads movement in Virginia.
 He had evidently given much thought and study to the subject, and discussed it in a very able and thorough manner. He advocated the local building and con- tIol of roads, and the levy of a special state tax for the construction of good reads, and county tax and also dis trict tax, and a wheel tax, to be remit ted when wide tires were adopted. These to be regulated according to the needs of the community. He favored the issue of xxyhar condition justified it. He recommended state highway commission, appointive or elective, who are to have charge of the expenditure Of all moneys for road purposes, an6 county engineer to superintend the con- struction of roads. He also favored the employment of state and county convicts upon the public roads. This statement was greeted by applause. He recited the provisions of the California law on that subject.
 MT. w. M Anderson offered the follow ing resolution, which was adopted: Resolved, That the subject of road leg islation be referred to the committee on resolutions, to report as soon as possible, and that the report be made a special or der of the next session.
 The president announced the appoint ment of the following committee on res- olutions:
 w. D. Chipley, if Pensacola: pr. W. D. Anderson. Virginia: w. M. Bennett Lake county Fla; J. B. T. Tupper, wash ington, D. C., to which the president, Gsn. Roy Stone, was added.
 At 11:30 Gen. Roy Stone took up the second question, "Co-operation in Build ing and Best Material for Constructing Good Roads" He said the state of Flor ida had better facilities and greater variety of material for constructing good roads than any state in the union lie recommended the organization of state good road associations and of county as scia tions, who are to agitate the question and educate the people by means or pup lications and public meetings. lie ao- vised the appointment or election or a state highway commission. The rail- roads were greatly interested in the sup feet of good roads. Their property would be doubled in value if complete system of good roads could be secured. In Cali fornia the roads were cooperating with the people in this matter and were trans porting road material at the actual cost of transportation, which was % cents per ton for fifty miles or less. And there was no question but what the Florida railroads would do as we'll or better. as the cost of transportation is less than in California He thought that in this man. ner good shell roads could be made at from $200 to $500 per mile in Florida. where shell could be mined from the mounds by steam shovels and loaded di- rect on the cars at nominal cost
 He said fight hard times with good roads-wherever good roads were builh prosperity succeeds them.
 He favored the local option good roads law in operation in New Jersey. When a good road is started by local initiation, it grows and continues to grow until ev- cry connection is made good
 The benefit of a good road is not linn ited to those whose lands abut upon that road, but all are benefited who use 1t, those who live upon the roads running into the main road, and that district wfd- ened the farther you go from the city or i,,itf al inf fnrn1inp apex on the city or country town. Every individual benefited by that road should contributed towards its construction
 Gen. Stone was listened to with marked attention and was applauded al the con- clusion.
 Hon. William Bennett read paper on "The Best Methods of Arousing Public Interest and Educating the Public Mind in Getting Good Highways, Including Co., operation and Needed Legislation
 The newspapers were named as the greatest public educators. Their infiu- ence should be secured and used unceas- ingly. The cooperation of railroads should be demanded. The church also should be enlisted in the cause. He showed the necessity for and the advant- age of good roads. His speech was short but directly to the point and was re- ceived with applause.
 Professor B. G. Northrop of Connecti- cut, was introduced and made short address in which he eulogized the state of Florida, it's climate and other attrac- tions, comparing it with California where he had spent several winters
 The committee on resolutions through Col. Chipley, its chairman, reported series of resolutions advocating state laws for good roads and the levying of taxes upon real and personal property for such purpose.
 Col. Chipley read the following resolu- tion which was adopted:
 Whereas, The national good roads con- gress recognizes the importance of good roads to the social, business, agricultural,