The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-09-27
GOOD ROADS BOOM
Governor w. E. Stanley Speaks
mt Today's Meeting.
Emphasizes the Importance Of
Improving Highways.
GOOD ROADS BUREAU.
One Is Organized to Push Work
i'm Kansas.
Parade and Experimental Road
Building Abandoned.
GOOD ROADS BUREAU.

The enthusiasm shown by the dele
gates at the Good Roads congress. the
sessions of which are being held In the
senate chamber, has not been dampened
by the present Indictment weather.
Although the rain at this time is I'M
fortunate it helps to emphasize the need
of the permanent Improvement of roads
Officers of the new State Good Roads
bureau were elected as follows: Presi-
dent. John K. Wright, Junction City;
vice president at large. B. ]. Sheridan,
Paola: secretary. Robert Stone; treas
urer, William Sims
That the movement for permanent i'm
provement of roads has taken a firm
hold on the minds of the people of the
state is evidenced by the large number
of delegates who have presented them
selves at the convention
Owing to the state of the weather the
parade OF road making machinery wnlcn
was to have taken place at one O'Clock
was abandoned, as was the experimental
road building.
The meeting this morning was opened
by Secretary F. D. Coburn who intro
duced Governor Stanley. The governor
remarks were brief. He said:
IT am glad to see this convention; 1
am glad to meet this body OF gentlemen
engaged in this enterprise. 1 presume
Kansas has about the best natural roads
in the country, but at times they are
very bad.
Competition is so close and rivalry 50
keen that one of the problems which
confronts the farmers is how to obtain
the best seed and after the crop is made
how to get the best prices for It. the
greatest expense which the farmer has
IS the cost of the primary haul | do
not know what the average haul in
Kansas is but Of course it must be sew
eT>al miles Now it may be reaoily seen
his load his expense will be less than II
he only hauls so bushels; and to the man
with 100 bushels for load the expense
would be less still
Now what we want is a law enabling
US to secure means to build good roads
If it is left to the legislature nothing
will ever be accomplished.
What we need is a practical bill pre-
pared by practical committee to pre-
sent to the coming session OF the leglS-
lature. I believe If this body appoints
a committee and prepares bill that 1t
A committee was appointed by the
delegates to the Good Roads congress
which met in the senate chamber OF the
state house this morning to perfect
plans for the permanent organization OF
a State Good Roads bureau. The COM
mittee was composed OF F. ID. Coburn.
of Shawnee county, NJ 5. Babcock. OF
Jefferson county, $. J. Stewart, of Allen
count, Benjamin Dornblazer. of Wilson
county, c. P. F'ogelstrom, Of Geary
county. and Robert Stone and Major
W
The object of the State Good Roads
bureau is to agitate the matter and keep
it constantly before the people and
make arrangements to send delegates to
the Good Roads, Good Streets and Ma
tional Irrigation congress which will be
held in Chicago November 19 to 3. 1900
President W. H Moore, of the Inter
state Good Roads association, is here to
help with the organization and suggest
ideas for the help of the association.
The meeting in Chicago will be attend
ed by about 5000 delegates from every
state in the union. It will combine the
interests of the people wanting irriga-
ton with those wanting good roads and
other internal improvements
At this time the congressman will be
going to Washington and as many as
possible will be induced to stop at the
convention if only for a day.
At this time a bill viii be prepared
and plans made to get it through con-
gress. giving the people authority to do
what they will in the matter of building
good roads and making other internal
improvements
From Topeka Mr.. Moore goes to St.
Louis, where a Good Roads convention
will be held and from there he will at
tend similar meetings in all the princi-