The Minneapolis journal., 1902-07-15
GOOD ROADS


of which County Surveyor G. Cooley is
president, is endeavoring to secure a
visit of the government good roads train.
In November, 1900, what is known as
the National Good Roads association was
organized at Chicago. OF that institution
w. H. Moore was president and R. w.
Richardson, secretary. It was this asso-.
citation which developed the idea OF send
ing through the country a train equipped
with road building machinery and road
building experts for the purpose of edu-
eating the people on the subject OF good
roads. /. i < r ~. ... --.-.2s.. -
The matter was presented to Presi-
dent stuyvesant Fish of the Illinois. Gem
trail, and with his assistance train was
started south on April 20, 1901. 1t went
+ first to New Orleans and then moved back
on the illinois Central system through
Louisiana, Mississippi and other states
I'D to Illinois. Wherever this train
stopped 1t was by prearrangment with the
citizens of that locality, and there pieces
of road were constructed, utilizing the
materials to be obtained in the locality
1 Illus IrdCSQ lectures WSlS uc11'ciouS o1Au @
sort of good roads institute held. r :
A similar train was sent over the
Southern railway. 1t started from the
city OF Washington in October, 1901, and
went through Virginia, North and South
| Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and Ala
bama. A piece of road was built at
Cha. lottesville toward Monticello. the
home of Thomas Jefferson, which has
since been completed by the local authori-
ties This expedition, starting out from
Washington, attracted the attention OF
members of congress and quite a number
we're present at Charlottesville. g..
Since that time the government at
Washington has taken up the matter OF
demonstrating by experts the best meth
DDS of road construction under the direc-
tion Of the department of agriculture
and the annual appropriate has been
! increased by congress from $40, 900 to $780,
/ OO0 The secretary of agriculture has
i given the matter his Endorsement, and the
work is under the general direction OF Mr.
Martin Dodge, director of the department
of public road inquiry Secretary r.. w
Richardson of the National Good Road:
association, with headquarters! at Chi.
cago, has been appointed special govern.
ment agent for what is known as the
central district of good road develop
ment. and associated with him is James
. W. Abbott, a mining engineer Of Denver
who is special agent of the Mountain di
vision of road inquiry. These gentlemen
are here for the purpose of cooperating
; with the state association in projec
to take a good roads train through from
l Minneapolis and st. Paul into the north
: west and possibly On to the coast.
/ 1t is hoped that this train may b
: kequipped here in time for demonstration
: at the state fair grounds, or in that vi
3 cinity, during fair week. That particula
time is favored because the fair bring
5 together a large number of farmers an
: business men from all parts Of the stat
3 and the northwest who are naturally mos
E deeply interested in road construction
o What Mr. Richardson hopes to do Is t
t Induce the Great Northern railroad t
s furnish transportation over its line fror
d their equ ipment Of road building machin
: cry and experts with view to carryin
d this campaign into the northwest. Tn
o matter Is under consideration at this tim
. by, the railroad officials. It is understoo
t. that the Santa Fe railroad has been anx
$ ious to furnish such a train over its line
g and send the road builders into the south
e west, but the plans of the governmen
n favor an early fall campaign In the north
e west.
S Minnesota has, as yet. appropriated n
It money for road building purposes whic
# could be made available IN assisting a
d enterprise of this kind. 1t is believed
however. that the counties Of Hennepi
Z and Ramsey can well afford to hear th
S expense jointly Of q satisfactory demon