The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-09

was good roads. 4 letter was read from
=. II. Ray Of Helena in regard TO good
country and macadam roads. II.
thought that read supervisors should al
once lend themselves 10 this movement.
following the plan outlined by the
League Of American Wheelmen.
f. Whiteside of Fiathead county,
president of the Society for the I'm
provement Of Highways, then spoke
earnestly and ably for good roads. In
the matter of roads he said the West
has kept little in advance of the In
dams. The great advance In the con-
struction and extension of railroads has
caused country roads to be largely over
looked. Good roads are an index OF
civilization. The great difficulty in the
way Of good roads is that their con-
struction and Improvement is left TO
local boards instead Of being under the
erintendence of one strong central
power. The first era Of scientific road
building came under the Roman en-
pire. a strongly centralized govern
ment. Many of the roads then con-
structed are still In existence. The next
era Of good roads building was under
the centralized government of Ma
poleon. The best known Of modern
read builders was Macadam. He in
truduced the system, but was not its
inventor. For country roads macadam
is far the best. Local boards differ SO
generally in their ideas of road inn
proYement that ii is difficult under such
system to obtain a good uniform sys-
tenn Of roads. Legislation is necessary
To bring about uniform system Of inn
proved highways. The speaker favored
the creation of a state highways conf
mission with power to plan general
system Of highways for the entire
state. In most parts Of the state the
money paid into county treasures as
road tax would be sufficient for the
making Of good roads If ii could be
made available for the purpose. The
speaker favored the employment Of
state convicts on road construction. lie
thought the cooperation of the bicycle
clubs in the different cities should be
obtained. In the East the bicyclists
are taking the lead in the making of
good roads. The speaker hoped the
time would come when n wheclman can
ride across Montana without carrying
his wheel most of the distance
Mr. Mcneil of Jefferson county ae-
corded with the views Of the previous
speaker but the great obstacle In the
way he considered to be the lack Of
money Montana's taxable property is
small and the speaker could not see
where the money is To come from now
10 construct macadam highway
through state of such enormous eH-
tent as Montana.
James H. keerl and other speakers
discussed the matter and measures fo'
the Improvement of the highways We're
referred To the board Of trustees.
The meeting was brought to plcas-
ant close hy a BANQUET III the evening
at the McDcrmott hotel. The dining
room was handsomely decorated with
plants and cut flowers. and an elegant
menu served. In the taasts which fol-
lowed. the guests were welcomed by T..
II. Wilson, and toasts were responded
To as follows: THE city of Butte" by
Judge stephen DeWolfe THE Press. =
]. III. Durston. Montana" A. =.
Keith; Hydraulic Engineering" Pro-
fessor e. Fl. Moore, THE Railroads. :"
Major ]. II. Dawson and w. Nj. Tuohy;
Electric Engineering, IL. w. Turner:
Engineering by Bull Train" George
w. Irwin; THE Architects IL. NJ Pat
tprSon.