The Minneapolis journal., 1902-07-18
G.N.GIYES The TRAIN
It Will Send Good Roads Mission
aries Through Minnesota.
A TRIP OF 100 DAYS PLANNED
pr.cticaI Demonstrators VIII Show
How to Make Roads With
= Materials at Hand. -.

Get ready for the good roads train,
is the message the good roads enthusiasts
of the twin cities are sending through
out the northwest. Final arrangements
have been made between the government
and - the Great Northern railway tor
sending out q good roads train to give
practical instructions In the art or oul!o-
ing good roads with proper regard Ior
economy and the material at mana. Inc
Great Northern has been extremely I'D
eral in this matter, and has made con
cessions which virtually amount to q
ash subscription of SIC, ,OO0 AS the road
receives no direct benefit from this act
of public spirit, the persons interested
in the good roads movement are justly
gratifed. The Great Northern othclals
have, in brief, placed at the service OF
Colonel r. W. Richardson, the govern
he may require, with the privilege or
taking 1t wherever he may see mt, ana the
company pays all the expenses. 1t Will
cost at least $100 per day to operate the
train and an itinerary Of 100 days has
been planned. ,..
twelve fiat cars, for material and the
most improved road machinery, and two
boarding cars for the engineers and ex-
pert road builders. ii - .'r'
This travelling school will be vast
and far reaching blessing to the whole
northwest, where ideas of what constitute
good roads are generally primitive 1t IS
admitted that the United States IS 1ar
behind Europe in the matter Of road con-
struction and that the northwest with a
few isolated exceptions, is behind the
east.
A few years hence the northwest should
have the finest roads in the union, pro-
vided the county and township authorities
charged with the road work avail them
selves Of the opportunity furnished oy
Uncle Sans travelling college.
The train will leave Minneapolis at the
close Of the Minnesota state fair and
will proceed west, stopping at the larger
cities on the way to the coast. NO
itinerary has as yet been made, but this
Is matter to be worked out later, The
first big work of Colonel Richardson was
| to secure train and In this he has sue
ceeded up to all his expectations and de-
| sires..
The first demonstrations Of practical and
| theoretical construction Of permanent
| roads will be held at the state fall
| grounds during fair week. A meeting OF
the executive committee OF the state gooo
| roads association, the county of1ic1als OF
| Hennepin and Ramsey counties, the state
fair management and the government ex-
perts will be held next week to arrange
| the details. The whole northwest will be
notified Of the program and as the Good
Roads association will hold its convention
fair week it Is expected that the gather
! ing will be attended by thousands.
| The demonstration will be- eminentlJ
practical, as at least one and probably
several miles Of actual road for public
use will be. constructed. Here, as In othel
places, It will be- the principal aim tc
utilize such road material as may be
found in the immediate vicinity. y
! Fair week will give a great impetus tc
| the good roads movement and will doubt
less stimulate the organization OF loca
associations to give aid to. the of1cial'
1 of the train and to arrange for holding
I good roads conventions. 7--sy.t.r2 v:rc-s :.
| Very few persons even the most intel
/ ligent farmers, are fully awake, to tn
| necessity of securing better roads. bu
when it is learned that they can replace
i their present roads on which a load o
one ton can be hauled with difficulty II
4 bad weather, by highways over which fiv'
tons can be transported with ease in al
kinds of weather, they are expected t
| take hold of the movement with tn
I greatest enthusiasm. Road building &C
oording> to modern ideas Is one of th'
the public. t-''7 A.. 49, =