Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-05
TO BUILD BETTER ROADS
PREPARING FOR THE MEETING
IN DETROIT.
Eminent Advocates Of Legislation for
Better Highways to Discuss
Their Plans.

Their Plans.
The International conference on good
roads, to be held in connection with the
annual meeting Of the American Road
Makers at Detroit, Mich, February Is and
IA, bids fair to be the most important meet
ing of IT'S kind ever held. Several governors,
besides Gov. Bliss of Michigan, have ac-
copied invitations to be present and take
part in the discussion Of the important
measures to be brought before the confer
ence. Several hundred delegates have been
appointed by about score Of governors,
and it Is expected that every state in the
Union will be represented. score of rep
resentatives and senators have accepted
the invitation to be present.
The program has been completed The
interstate highway bill, the Brownlow bill,
the latter now before Congress; the convict
labor, state aid and state instruction bills
are all questions Of prime Importance
which will be thoroughly discussed by the
leading officials and representatives of the
various states, together with distinguished
good roads advocates in the United States
and from the dominion of Canada.
A number of letters have been received
from distinguished men indorsing the move
ment
Senator Burnham Of New Hampshire
much interested in the subject Of good
roads, and shall always favor such meas
ures as will reasonably and properly. pro-
mote the building of good highways"
In accepting the invitation Representa-
-tfve-edect Franklin q. Brooks Of Colorado
Springs. Col, remarks: Il am heartily in
sympathy with the general purpose and
plan Of the organization and shall be glad
to further its designs"
Representative Townsend Scudder of New
York writes: MY interest in good roads is
worked zealously. and successfully, I am
Pleased to say, to inaugurate and put
through great county road system In
Queens county. which I believe to be the
finest system of macadam work in New
York. A similar work I should like to see
1naugurated throughout the country, and
the the f1rst step Enthusiastically will be the
itals or the principal cities Of the several
states. Anything that can do to cooper
ate with you 1 will do gladly"
Charles 5: Weisse, representative, sixth
VIII attend If possible. I am in favor of
this move and good roads is the best-pay-
ing investment any district can make"
rRepr esenta tdve-elect Norton P. Otis of
New York writes: II do not think I shall
De able to attend the international confer
ence IN February, yet beg to assure you
mat l am heartily in sympathy with any
movement for lettering the condition of
the highways This Is a matter in which
our country Is a good deal behind many of
une european countries as yet, and trust
that means will be discovered to give us as
good roads as are to be found anywhere in
tne worid-perhaps we are entitled to bet
ter oneS.'
Representative John A. Keliher of Ros
.oh writes: Il beg to assure you of my en-
tlre sympathy with the object of this move
ment and that my endeavors while in Con-
gress will be directed toward putting into
practical operation that for which you are
cow striving
nf
Will further the construction and mainte-
nance of good roads in the United States"
remarks Representative-eleet William H.
Wiley Of New Jersey, in responding to the
invitation. This appeals to me NOT only
as q citizen, but also as an engineer. in
which profession have spent many wears
OF my life and am more or less familiar
with road construction. There is no rea-
son why We should not have them, unless it
Is because of the Indifference Of people in
general to matter Of public interest of
The farmers, of all men, throughout the
west, should be foremost in the promotion
OF any plan of this kind. The contrast of
the condition of many Of our western roads
with those in other countries is so great
that It seems they should not have been
neglected even as long as they have 1
should be most pleased to cooperate in any
way IN the matter, but other engagements
Will prevent my attendance. You may feel sure
that any measure of this kind which comes
before the F'ifty-eighth Congress will re-
ceiVe most careful consideration at my
hands. 1 wish you success in this move.
ment Tor the benefit of the country at
large"
Representative John Dougherty of Mis-
souri, says: Il am very much in favor of
the improvement Of roads of our country
and believe that 1t is one of the great prac-
teal questions of the day. The develop
ment OF the railroads and traction roads of
all kinds has far exceeded the development
Of ordinary roads, which are necessarily
the feeders for all other kinds of roads |
and it is high time that the ordinary roads
were receiving the attention they deserve"
KEEP Representative-elect Wyatt Aiken of
vor Of improving the public roads in the |
republic, and will do all in my power |
toward having such legislation enacted to |
government. state and counties should |
Jointly Improve, permanently, all roads |
where mail is now delivered free under the |
nee rural delivery system. 1t will take
time to do this, but in ten years time a |
marvellous amount of permanent improve |
ment could be made"
Senator A. G. Foster of Tacoma, Wash. |
says: II wish you and the other road maxi !
ers to know that am in hearty sympathy |
with the general movement and the general |
plan and scope of the good roads associa- |
ton throughout the country"
The American Road Makers Associa on |
Is a unique organization of it's kind as it is |
the only one having a limited and paid |
membership. There can be but ten members |
from each state. The membership is lin |
tied, SO as to provide for equal representa- |
ton Of every state and territory and at |
the same time prevent any possible domi- |
nance of the organization by any one sec |
ton of the country in the future. Because |
Of the limitation, it cost something to ioin |
and something to maintain a membership. |
Amendments to the constitution Will be |
submitted at the Detroit meeting providing |
Tor state auxiliary associations, in order to |
admit the hundreds of good roads advo-
Gates who have been clamoring for admis- |
sion. In this way the national organiza- |
large number of influential good road ad |
vocates throughout the country, and there |
by increase it's power to promote the bet |
terment of national highways
The Brownlow bill, which Is now before |
Congress, will be thoroughly dissected and |
a substitute will be drawn up and put into |
the hands of a national committee, with in |
structions to secure the necessary amend
ments to the Brownow bill as It now |
stands. 1t contains many defects, and does |