Evening star., 1902-02-17
FOR BETTER ROADS
THE COMING CONVENTION AT
CHARLOTTESVILLE.
Attendance Of 10000 Expected-Good
Work Done by the Special Train
Run Through the South.

In preparation for the good roads conven-
ton which is to be held in Charlottesville,
Va. March 10. 20 and 81, President w. II.
Moore of the National Good Roads Associa-
ton and Mr.. Martin Dodge, chief of the
division of public road inquiries, have
opened a special Office in the Agricultural
Department. For the next two weeks those
officials will hold themselves ready to
answer inquiries about the convention, and
VIII devote themselves to completing the ar
rangements for the Charlottesville meeting.
From present indications, Mr.. Moore ex-
poets an attendance of not less than 20 600.
The list Of speakers for the meeting in
cludes Governor Montague Of Virginia, Sen
ator Daniel, General j. B. Gordon, General
Joseph Wheeler, General Fitzhugh Lee,
Senator Mitchell, Senator Hanna Senator
Depew. ex-Secretary Olney, Ex-Governor
David R. Francis Of Missouri and Mr.. j. ].
Hill, president Of the consolidated railroads
OF the northwest
Within a few days Messrs. Moore and
Dodge will send each member of Congress
an invitation to attend the convention. From
assurances already received, they have rea-
son to hope many senators and representa-
tives will accept. The President and his
cabinet are expected to make their belated
trip to Charleston about the time of the
convention. If that proves to be the case.
hours with the good roads makers. The in
vitation list also includes the governors Of
many states, several Of whom have already
accepted and expect to take part In the
meeting.
AS an object lesson. Mr.. Moore and his
engineers are to build a sample road four
and half miles long, reaching from Char
lottesvile to Monticello, the home Of Jeffer-
son. Part Of this work will be completed
before the delegates arrive, to show the
contrast between fair roadway and good
one, and the remainder will be built in the
presence Of the delegates The cost of this
construction will be calculated the work
progresses. The whole undertaking is ex-
pected to prove one Of the most convincing
lessons of the convention
This convention has been arranged by the
Good Roads Association. the Southern rail-
way, the local Good Roads Association of
which General Lee is president. and the
bureau of which Mr.. Dodge is the chief.
All four organizations have undertaken to
make the attendance as large as possible,
and all have met with the most gratifying
interest. Mr.. Moore's estimate Of 10000 is
supported by representatives Of every or
ganization concerned in the convention,
In the five months just ended Mr. Moore
and Mr.. Dodge have covered 5000 miles
and traversed eight states. arousing inter-
est in good roads. They left Washington
October % with special train of fifteen
cars. including twelve cars of road-buld-
ing machinery, one commissary car and
two coaches. Their working force included
twenty-five men, who lived in the train
five months. Meetings were held in eigh-
teen cities in Virginia. North Carolina.
Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and South
Carolina. The total attendance is estimated
at over $1,000 persons. Twenty-Five miles
OF sample roads We're constructed. The
last OF these meetings was held at Raleigh.
c., and was concluded Saturday. A
large number of public men spoke in be-
hall Of good roads. among them being Sen
ator Simmons and Representative POu of
North Carolina and August W. Machen,
superintendent of the free delivery system
of the Post Offie Department. The special
train is now in Danville Va. and will re-
main there a week during good roads
convention. 1t will then go to Richmond.
and March to Lynchburg. at each of
which places conventions will be held