Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-08-28
GOOD ROADS TRAINS.
They Garry Machinery and Good
speakera and Will, No Doubt;
Prove Very Helpful,


Prove Very Helpful.
To State Senator Earle, of Michigan,
belongs the credit of suggesting the
actual demonstration of good roads by
sending good roads train about the
country to show the people how to
build roads. If he had not been active
ly engaged in his legislative duties his
train would have been started long
ago, but owing to this fact others have
appropriated the idea and started a
good roads train ahead of his own. The
senator expresses pleasure that the
idea has been copied, and hopes that
still others will take it up, for all that
he desires is the rapid dissemination
of the gospel of good roads," and he
thinks the good roads train affords the
most effective method.
Senator Earle's train will leave De-
troit equipped with all the modern
machinery used in the construction
and maintenance of good roads. The
most convincing speakers will accom-
pany the train, and they will preach
the gospel"of better highways wher-
ever the train goes. These advocates
understand that Rome was not built
in a day, and that neither were the
splendid highways of Europe con-
structed in year. But they maintain
that now is the time to begin a sys-
tematic improvement of the roads of
the United States. There is only one
thing lacking to general lettering Of
the present deplorable condition of
the common dirt roads, and that is the
will of the people: The Yankee spirit
which dominates the American people
enables them to appreciate a good
thing when they see it, and therefore
it is expected that the good 1oads
train will make more converts and pro-
duce better results than anything else
which could be done.
A good sized train, which willinclude
ten carloads of machinery, is already
made up, waiting for the signal to
start. A corps of expert road builders
will be included in the outfit, which
will insure the construction of the
sample of road on scientific principles.
Canada has train in preparation,
but with greater advantages, mas
much as the government has appro-
priated 100000 to be expended in
lettering the roads of that region.
Thus far the United States govern
ment has not done anything worthy
OF mention in this direction; in fact, it
may be said, its shame, that the off,
Gals in charge of the department. for
the improvement of roads in this coun-
try have been obliged to rely almost
wholly upon their own resources or
generous-hearted philanthropists in
romoting the work. Senator Earle
thinks the time is ripe for this great
republic to make liberal appropria-
ton to the cause of good roads, and
he expects to bend all his energies in
the attainment of this end, but he
strongly hopes and asks for the hearty
cooperation of all people who may be
in sympathy with the movement.
1t is the earnest hope of Senator
Earle that the good roads movement
will be enthusiastically taken up by
every state in the union. And there is
much evidence in support of the belief
that his hope will be fully realized.
Nineteen states have either held or
are to hold state conventions to boom
the movement for good roads during
the year 1901. State Engineer Bond, of
Albany, N. Y, has suggested to the
managers of the Pan-American expo
sition that they do something for the
cause. Accordingly, arrangements for
another national gathering, to con-
vene at Buffalo some time in Septem-
Der, are being rapidly perfected. This
monster national mass meeting will
in no way interfere with the work be-
ing done by either the state or ma.
tional good roads associations. Much
thought and attention is being given
to that portion of the programme which
deals with modern road making ma
chinery, and it is expected that there
will be the largest exhibition ever
known of this kind of machinery at
the Pan-American in connection with
this meeting. The Charleston exposi-
ton. which will open in December, will
do much to further the cause in the
south. The managers are making
strenuous efforts to have the good
roads feature among the most promi-
nent and helpful.-Municipa Journal.