The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-16
ty which have been made to the state
for some specific purpose.
Mr.. ChOate continued:

ty which have been made to the state
for some specific purpose.
Mr.. Choate continued:
This prohibition was introduced into our
constitution a result of a reaction caused
by extravagant expenditures and the mourning
of debts by state legislatures in building and
managing of railroads, canals, ETC., at a time
when there was no limitation upon the max
ing of such Internal improvements.
No legislation could be enacted under an
amendment proposed by this legislature until
the meeting Of the legislature two years from
now. In the meantime there should be some
effort made to bring before the legislature
we'll considered system of road laws to be n
acted under the proposed amendment. There
should be highway committee appointed by
this legislature, whose duty it should be to
study and investigate the whole subject of
highway legislation-learn the result of recent
legislation which has been tested in Eastern
location of the materials suitable for road
| building in Minnesota, and present it to the
next legislature system of road laws in
cord with the latest and best knowledge and
experience on the subject and adapted to the
conditions peculiar to this state.
Several constitutional amendments have re-
Gently been adopted which have prepared the
way for establishing state road fund with
out calling upon the taxpayers for any addf-
tlonal taxation. One of these is an amend
ment adopted in 1894 providing for an in
come tax, another is an amendment adonted
at the last election providing for the taxation
OF sleeping cars, telephone, telegraph, express
ana boom companies.
My recommendation then is:
F1rst-use all our energies in securing at
TINS meeting of the legislature the passage
of bill submitting an amendment D. the
constitution permitting the state to aid in
building wagon roads.
Second-Secure the passage of a hill an
pointlng highway commission to investi-
gate and report at the next meeting of the
legislature suitable laws under these several
amendments of the constitution.
The afternoon session proved thor
oughly interesting one and the men,.
berS present listened with much pleas
ure to several new papers. Among
them were one on Bicycle Paths" by
A. B. Ovitt, Of st. Paul; 1.-THE Opponents
OF Good Roads," by P V. Collins:
Roadways, The Arteries for State
development, by President A L.
Croker, Of the Minneapolis board of
trade; Good and Bad Roads Around
st. Paul." by G. A. Forbes, and Euro
peam Roads," by Prof. W. R. Hoag, of
the state university.
During the afternoon session, P. ".
Collins, Of Minneapolis, spoke on 1.-THE
Opponents Of Good Roads" He classi-
ned these opponents as follows:
F1rst-Those who believe that what Is and
what has been are good enough for what
shall be.
Second-Those who thrive by crying that
an prosperity Is dead never to be revived,
and that united effort to better things is for.
ever useless. They are sometimes termed
calamity howlers.
Third-Those who live in the cities and
VINO believe that roads interest only farm
erS.
Fourth-Those who live in the country and
are preludiced against all idea of improve
ment which shall not be entirely at the ex
pense of the city people,
F1fth-Those who don't own bicycles
S1Xth-ThOse who don't own horses
Seventh-Those who have never investigated
the far-reaching Importance of the subject.
Mr.. Collins made the point that if
costs now an average of rs cents ner
ton per mile to haul on American wagon
reads; when roads are brought to a
state of perfection as in some Euro-
pean countries the cost is less than
4 cents per ton per mile The cost of
hauling by steam or electricity on steel
rails Is less than 1 cent per ton nor
mile. ~
A. b. Ovitt's paper on Good Roads
and Bicycles" was in substance as fol-
lows:
GOOD ROADS AND BICYCLES.
Until quite recently good roads and +bo
arguments for and against them were consid
cred only with reference to horses ond
wagons. In 1886, in many parts of the state
the travellers by bicycles exceeded in number
the travellers of all other kinds by about three
TO one and no one can plan inteIligentlv for
cycle. VIC VI
admit that there exists at present q con-
siderable prejudice against bicycles and BIZ
Cyclists. Few people are unable To rid
themselves of the feeling that the things ara
nuisance and that any place is good enough
for them.
Two efficient causes are at work diminish
ing this prejudice, and it is rapidly melting
away. The class of people who use BICYCLES
has changed, and the farmer and the team
ster now mostly come in contact with wheel
men and wheelwomen who are not excalIed
in politeness by any one The scorchers ana
the 1nconsiderate youths, with manners nm
learned, are exceptions for which the great
body~of wheelmen is not responsible
The wheelmen themselves are anxious to
weed out and punish the Doors who mas
querade on wheels as gentlemen and make
1T unpleasant for every one they meet
Then so many former opponents have
learned to ride. A convert is not usuaIIv
made in a day, but it works something like
this: A cycle path is built through some
thickly settled farming country. Most of tbe
farmers along the route at first refuse to have
anything to do with it; they think it useless
expense; but the farmers children find good
use for it, and most of them maneuyer mil
they become possessed of wheels for them
selves. The child first uses the wheel as .
matter OF pleasure only; the rest soon dis
cover that there is way to get anvtbing
from the neighbors from the postofHce Sc
easily or so quickly to tend Willie on hiS
wheel, and mamma observes that besides Civ
ing pleasure to the CHILD, the wheel serves