The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-16
BICYCLE NOT A FOE
TO THE FARMER, PLAINLY DEMON
STRATED BY A. ID. vA.
OVIT"T.
--------7------. -~.s<
TO GOOD ROADS PROMOTERS.
THEIR INTERESTS ARE IDENTICAL
AS HE SHOWS THEM CON-
CLUSIVELY.
1T WAS AN INTERESTING DAY
--t .1frtf,4f ..F..
For the Farmers and Others Who
Are Pushing the Good Roads
Cause ''-.'~' pa
1T WAS AN INTERESTING DAY

Who shall say that it is not the ad-
vent of the. bicycle which has brought
about the agitation about good roads?
Who shall say that it is not the COM
ing of the wheels that has set in mo-
ton plans which bid fair to result in
having excellent thoroughfares outside
the cities built economically yet on a
scientific basis which will beaa mercy
to the horses and cattle in the country
and a boon to the merry bikers?
II all this is not brought about, it
will certainly not be the fault of a lot
of energetic men who have been meet
ing for the past day or two and discuss
ing and reading papers on the very en-
crossing subject. In the past there
have been sporadic attempts made for
the betterment of turnpikes. but moth
ing definite has been accomplished. The
Minnesota Good Roads association met
yesterday at the capitol for it's annual
session. Judge H. r. Wells, Of Preston,
presiding. ' '47 '7' @1sh
Prof. w. M Hays, of the State Agri-
cultural school, addressed the meeting.
informally giving an outline of the
present road laws which he. considered
III the main good. He would, however,
make a number of changes. He would
have a county surveyor or engineer of
roads and township superintendent
who would have charge of repairs
Pref. Hays suggested a state good
roads commission with power to. expend
the present road funds ($25, OOO) now in
the state treasury. This should be
spent in arousing public sentiment, and
in the actual encoura cement of good
roads plans by contribution toward the
expenses of. engineering work Prof.
Hays also advocated a state road fund
as we'll as county road funds to be dis
tributed to counties doing the best
work.
T. A. Hoverstadt, superintendent of
the CroOkston experimental station.
spoke on the difficulties of road making
in the Red river valley. Steel roads
were suggested, as a possible solution
Of the Red river valley problem.
The election of officers being propos-
ed, A. B. Choate said that he favored
abandoning the organization in it's pres
ent form. 1t was time for the legis-
lature to take up the matter and ap-
point a commission. $3.50 ---
Prof. Hays, George H. Hazard and
W. S. Chowen opposed giving up the
association and Secretary Collins de-
tended himself against the insinuation
that his official duties had been neg
lected. It was finally decided to pro
ceed to the election of officers.
Prof. Hays nominated Judge Wells
to succeed himself as president and
there was no opposition. Prof. HAYS
then nominated j. T. Elwell for secre-
tary and Mr.. Collins nominated Prof.
Hoverstadt. Mr.. Eliwell was elected.
The appointment of an executive
committee was left to the president.
In paper ON Minnesota road laws.
A. B. Choate, of Minneapolis traced
them to feudal times, and found in them
a relic of semi barbarism. The laws
were unworthy the state He suggest
ed that the constitution needed amend
ing In order to make possible an euuit-
able distribution of the road funds
The section needing amendment was
section 5, article 9, which absolutely
prohibits the state from contracting
any debts for or becoming a party in
carrying on works Of internal improve
'nent, except to appropriate the pro
ceeds of grants Of land or other proper