The suburban citizen., 1901-03-23
6666d Roads R6tss

Blcycics and Good Roads.

Bicycles and Good Roads.
~ TATE SENATOR HORATIO
~ 5. Earle, of Michigan, one of
y the most prominent candl
dates for election TO the presi-
dency of the League Of American
Wheelmen, wrote to the Tri- Weekly
on the connection between wheeling
ana good roads, and announces pur.
pose which should appeal to every Low.
er OF the wheel and opponent of the bi.
cycles arch enemy King Mud. Sena,
Tor Earle is in earnest,i ms his letter
shows. He writes as follows:
10 the Editor of the Tribune:
sir 1t is my purpose to honor
the organization Of the League of
American Wheelman with the first
good roads travelling school, or
good roads train, that ever went
over this country, to teach the
art of road building from the ma.
terial handy in each section of the
country in which it may be my privilege
to hold conventions. l shall have every
Kind Of machinery that is good for
making and improving roads and side
paths. We shall construct 300 feet of
stone road, POO feet of gravel road and
improve 200 feet of dirt road ut such
place, teaching Highway Commission
ers and all others how to do il in an
economical way. This, OF course, is
not philanthropical on the part of the
road machinery manufacturers, for
they expect that the sales they will he
able to make at this time and in the
near future will be enough 10 pay for
the expense that they are subjected to
in furnishing this train. This has gone
past the guesswork period, as suffi.
eient machinery companies have III.
ready agreed to go into the scheme
with me to make it an assured thing.
1t will be my purpose to hold two con.
ventlons in eGch Of at least twenty-five
States. l purpose to work with the
Chief Consul of each State to arrange
for the convention, for the right mate.
rial, and as to which towns we shall
visit and hold the school at. Further,
automobile clubs wheelnens clubs,
farmers clubs, mechanics clubs or
unions Ithe latter on account of prison
labor now competing with their labor)
should take an active part in the build
ing Of stone roads, and even paved
roads are not a thing impossible by
using convict labor, making the bricks
and turning the bricks over to the
county, as so much State aid to the
building Of prominent leading high
ways.
"Of course, realize the fact that the
League Of American Wheelmen is
composed, or was composed years ago
Of young men who got horse sense the
first Of any people in America, and
they got it because they went out in
opposition TO the horse and attempted
to propel a vehicle through mud and
sand and so really they have turned
to be horse sayiors, and now know as
much about good roads rs the horse
has for centuries, and / believe it is
time for this organization to do some
thing besides talk, and that it should
take a stand for good roads and win
the honor and the glory OF getting
horse sense first, and being an organi-
2ation that brings good roads and bet
ter roads to the people for the benefit
of both man and horse.
II believe that the Road Inquiry De-
partmcnt at Washington should issue
road books in sections at actual cost
to anybody, because it is as necessary
for man to know how and where to
,ro t1o oog;,gt on1 oboopoct n . If Is tbn
best seed to plant or the best way to
eXterminate some kinds Of bugs
Further l beNeve that eventually,
and not so very far distant in the flu
ture. there will be road department
entirely separate from the Agricultu-
raj Department, and that the Secre-
tary of this Department will be q
member Of the Presidents Cabinet,
for where else In this country is there
a SG00,OO0,0O0 waste? By continuing
the payment of toll to King Mud we
are wasting this amount Of money, and
it should command the attention Of
every officer and citizen of this nation. =.
My theory is, no less money for water
ways, but a great deal more money
for highways. The money appro-
priated to the waterways is all right
where all flags sail. but l would like
to see good deal Of money appro-
priated to the highways, where but
one flag sails, and that the Gag Of the
taxpayer. And when we get him
walked up to the fact that he is build
ing railways for railroad kings he will
tax himself and them to build high
ways for the people.
I'm closing let me say to you that l
am at your command at any time to do
anything | can to better the roads OF
my own State or the entire United
States"