Omaha daily bee., 1898-02-10
THEY TALK OF GOOD ROADS
League Of American Wheelmen Discusses
Highway Improvement
INTEREST IN ELECTION AT FEVER HEAT
Nearly All the Delegates Are Present
and Everything is In Readiness
for the Opening
Session.

was devoted by the national assembly OF the
League OF American Wheelmen to the die
cussion OF good roads. number of papers
on the subject OF highway improvement were
read by delegates prominently engaged in
the furtherance Of good roads, and the meet
ing was OF intense interest.
Chairman Otto Doerner OF Milwaukee pre-
sided over the meeting, and in his opening
address stated that reports were coming in
from all over the country that the farmers
had entered into the good roads movement
with an unexpected zeal. Prof John Hamil-
ton of Harrisburg, Pa, president of the Ma
tional Association of Farmers Institute Con-
ductors, delivered the principal address OF
the day. The meeting did not adjourn until
late In the afternoon.
The interest In the election has increased
to fever heat The New York delegation has
posted a bulletin board in their headquarters
on which Is marked down every vote as
fast as 1t is pledged for Potter. At o'clock
tonight the board read 276 votes pledged.
That President Potter will be elected is con-
fdently expected on all sides, and specula-
tion is now being made on his majority.
Everything is now in readiness for the
opening session of the assembly tomorrow
morning and with but very few scattering
exceptions, the delegates have all arrived.
George ID. Gideon and twenty-seven Pennsyl-
vania delegates arrived early this evening.
Tonight a banquet was held in the dining
hall of .ha Southern and the festivities were
continued until midnight
INTEREST IN LOCAL OPTION.
A majority of the delegates are In
the city. A large number came IN
on this mornings trains and stragglers
will reach here tonight and tomorrow morn
ing before the actual business of the session
begins The question that will receive the
most earnest discussion is that of local op-
ton for the state divisions. An amendment
providing that state divisions be granted the
right to determine for themselves whether or
not Sunday bicycle races should be per-
mitted was introduced last year at the as
sembly at Albany and was defeated by but
six votes. At that time division option was
not considered to be of moment to the league,
but the defeat of the amendment, occasoning
the formation of outlawed leagues in Califor-
MIA and Louisiana, where the control of the
sport passed almost entirely into the hands
of the newly formed organizations, has mad
the effect of causing the present delegates
to hear both sides of the question and to de-
termine to decide the case on its merits.
The prevailing opinion seems to be that II 1t
is best for the league, such an amendment
would be adopted at the present convention.
The disposition to afford the advocates of
Sunday racing every possible opportunity to
give their plans fair trial extends even
among the members of such states as Mas
sachusetts and New York, where previously
strong opposition to the idea was found. In
view of this change of sentiment 1t Is evil
dent that the local option amendment will
be given thorough consideration when it
comes before the assembly on Thursday
morning.
President Potter's reelection for the en-
suing year and the success of his whole ticket
seems assured, for no decided opposition has
bppO shown
been made public. Rumors of the candi-
dacy of George d. Gideon, eX-chairman of
the racing board, and of Fred Garlock ex-
| racing board member from Chicago, are
bruited about, but have not yet assumed def
mite shape. The Potter slate is as follows:
President Isaac Potter of New York; first
vice president, Thomas ]. Keenan, of Penn
sylvania; second vice president, Edward n.
Hines of Michigan; secretary, Abbott Bassett,
Massachusetts; treasurer, ]. c. Tattersall,
New Jersey
Todays sessions were devoted to the dis
| cussion of the good roads movement and
time was taken up with interesting addresses.
1t was II O'Clock when Vice President Nor
| rison called the convention to order. Mr..
Otto Doerner of Milwaukee, chairman of the
National Highway improvement commission,
was introduced as chairman Of the meeting.
WHEELMEN MAKE THE START.
Sterling Elliott of Massachusetts,, eX-
president of the league, spoke briefly on the
History Of the Good Roads Movement" out
lining what had been done and what was
needed to further the movement. The work,
he said, had started with the riders of the
wheel and it was mostly through their eff
forts that it was being put forward now.
Chairman Dorner then announced that the
national highway Improvement committee
had offered two lots of cash prizes for the
best collection of photographs of bad roads.
While number had been received, the com
petition was still open
The principal address of the day was that
of Prof Hamilton of Harrisburg. Pa, who
is president of the National Association of
Farmers Institutes Conductors and author
OF the Hamilton road bill which is expected
to do so much for the improvement of the
roads in that state. His address was en-
titled Good Roads Prospects in Pennsyl-
yania."
Pennsylvania is one of few states which
have given aid to the counties and townships
within their borders in the building of roads
About ten years ago, when the agitation of
the good roads question was begun, the road
system OF Pennsylvania was mass of con-
fusion and inefflcency. 1t was found that
there were in force over 1000 different
enactments in regard to roads and bridges.
There were about 100000 miles of roads in
the commonwealth, not including the turn
pike roads, controlled by corporations,
or the streets and boulevards of cities and
boroughs. These roads, together with the
bridges, had cost the citizens OF the state
annually about 81 900 000 After the appoint
ment of a commission and a lengthy investi-
cation Of the matter the Hamilton road bill
passed the legislature in 1897. This law re-
pealed all of the acts inconsistent with It
a0d provided for the appropriation by the
state Of ST. 900 900 to be distributed according
to the number of miles of road in each town
ship the distribution to be made under the
direction of the secretary of the department
OF agriculture OF the state. 1t was provided
that no district shall receive more of the
state appropriation than is raised therein
by local taxation The law further provides
that one-haf of the road tax assessed
against the property throughout the state
shall If demanded, be paid in money
After one or two other addresses of minor
importance a recess was taken until 2:3O
p. m.
WORK IN MINNESOTA.
A. b. Choate, member of the national
highway committee for Minnesota, who has
lately succeeded in securing the passage by
the legislature of thai state OF a resolu-'
tion fayoring the adoption of an amendment
to the constitution providing state Aid IN
the building of highways presided at the
afternoon session. On assuming the chair