The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-11-20
A GOOD ROADS TALK.
What Colonel W. B. Slosson Thinks OF the
Coming Convention.
THE COAST COUNTRY WILL Be BENEFITED
some Good Arguments in Regard IL
the Necessity for Improved
Highways.

In discussing the good roads convention
TO be held In Houston December 10 and 10
Colonel W. B. Slosson said yesterday:
Houston never hesitates to take on new
enterprise or labor when the end to he
reached Is for her upbuildng. Last weel
another enterprise was ably presented te
her citizens. vast in its proportion and
r-reaching in its results, not only X
her people. but also including benefits tc
all the rural population of the coast cuun-
try whose industries are making Houston
rich and prosperous.
The movement is the procuring of good
roads, and with it drainage, for the get
ting OF good roads furnishes without addi-
tional cost what is the Imperative demand
of this section-drainag for the coast
country.
Colonel W. II. Moore, president OF the
Interstate and Public Improvement as
ISOLATION, has addressed the members oil
the Houston Business League with such an
appeal to the good sense as we'll as to the
self interests Of all citizens that at once
n competent committee of citizens was
Z
this congressional district. The result will
be a two-days convention during the
weeks festivities of the Fruit. Flower
and Vegetable Festival in December, at
tended not only by citizens, but by the
farmers and horticulturalists of the State,
Through this convention education on this
vital subject will be we'll commenced. An
object lesson is always effective 1t Is
coming. Arrangements are already made
TO bring to Houston on tho day before the
convention in December all the machinery
required of the most approved pattern to
begin and complete section Of road aud
a street while our visiting farmers and
citizens can personally watch the trans
formation of dry dirt or mud into SYM
metrical. well rounded street such as
every farmer will hereafter hope 10 see
before his own home and leading towards
the hustling city of Houston, his market
place.
Colonel Moore expects Postmaster
General Smith. the orator OF the cabinet
or Assistant Postmaster General Perry 5.
Heath. to explain TO or people the latest
innovation, free rural delivery of the mails,
and the good roads necessity therefor be-
cause within seven Years from today and
perhaps sooner. our farmers within twen-
ty-five miles of Houston will have free
delivery of their mail daily, Accompany
ing Colonel Moore will be General E. II.
Harrison, government engineer, and Ma.
tional Secretary e. c. Derber of the assoc
citation. 1t is also expected that Hon.
James Wilson, secretary of agriculture OF
the cabinet, will again visit Houston and
attend this convention as no man In
America is more deeply Interested in this
movement. and our citizens will be more
than pleased to welcome him here gain.
| Governor Savers and our senators and
members of congress will be invited and
many of them attend, for to our National
and State legislatures will this question
soon be presented and legislation be DO
manded by the people.
1T is a good omen OF snap that Judge
Vasmer, chairman Of our county commits
sion, who is laboring so persistently and
perseveringly to build good roads in Har-
! ris county. and our mayor and several OF
the city council have taken deep interest
in this movement, in harmony with all our
business men who so far as kn0Wn, havs
endorsed the enterprise heartily
/ ITO our merchants who are giving time
and money to make our annual festival SO
grand a success this further effort TO hell
by good roads our friends from the coun-
try TO come more easily and often TO the
city to trade will appeal with a pleasing
force
do our farmers realize that the largest
fax they pay by far is the cost and ex-
pense OF pulling their teams TO the market
over muddy roads? That the actual ex-
pense to every farmer is more to haul his
grain or cotton nine miles than the rail-
road charges for freight on the same load
100 miles or 400 miles by wter transporta-
ton? This is subject that grows--that
interests all farmers. laborers, merchants.
business men, bankers-all will vote aye
when, at this coming convention move
ment will be put on foot to drain this coast
country and have in every direction from
this city OF Houston a well graded or paved
street that will be accessible by wagon,
buggy, bicycle or horseless carriage. along
which are pleasant homes 50 desirable that
the farmers boys and girls will prefer to
live there than try the uncertain life of
the city,