The Monticellonian., 1903-01-29

Last week was a week of conven- tions at the State Capital, but the gathering of the greatest interest to the citizens throughout the State was the Good Roads convention, which met on the Fist with in the neigh borhood of 400 delegates in attend ance. Every county in the State was represented.
 The convention of county judges, called by Judge Chapline, of Monroe, was merged into the Good Roads con- yention.
 Judge w. M. Kavanaugh, of Pulaski, delivered the address of welcome, which was responded to by Hon. Wm. H. Moore, president of the National Good Roads association.
 Mon. Minor Wallace was made per- manent chairman, and J. c. Yancey. w. B. Wilson and U. c. Bond were chosen secretaries.
 Hon. Martin Dodge, of Washington. director of the office of public roads inquiries, spoke on the subject of Fed eral and State Aid to Roads" He ad- yocated both government and state aid in road building. MT. Dodge advo- cated the passage of the Brownlow bill, now before congress (No. 15,369, providing for an addition to the agri- cultural department for a bureau of public roads, and asking for an ap- propriation of s20,000 ,000 for its main- tenance.
 Hon. R. w. Richardson, United States commissioner of highways of St. Louis, spoke on the Relation of Good Roads to Manufacturing He pointed out the economy of good roads; advocated government, state and municipal aid, and favored the Brownlow bill now pending, asking for an appropriation of $20,000.0 900 to be proportioned to the several states:' favored working convicts on the roads and urged the appointment of a large delegation to attend the National Good Roads convention to be held in St. Louis April 27.
 Hon. A. J. Halmer, chief of the de- partment of mines of the St. Louis ex- position, spoke on the subject, Con yict Labor on Roads" He advocated working convicts on roads In the counties where they are convicted. He read statistics showing that in North Carolina, where this plan has been adopted, the cost of keeping and guarding them is cheaper than the old plan, and escapements fewer, while they take burden of taxation from free labor instead of coming in compe- tition with it. The North Carolina plan permits the accused to go to work on the roads. In case of his convic- tion later he is given credit for the time he has already put in, and in the case of acquittal he is allowed a req sonable wage out of the county treas ury fer the time he has put in.
 Hon. J. c. Yancey, J. w. Pierce, J. H. McCallum, c. D. Johnson, w. NJ. Kavanaugh and Judge Ford were ap- pointed committee to draft bill to be presented to the general assembly providing for the defining of more spe- cific duties of road overseers and con- mlssioners.
 The Hon. Frank H. Hitchcock chief of division for foreign markets of the United States department of agricul ture, then addressed the body on the subject, Relation of Good Roads to the Markets" The speaker pointed out the manner in which good roads effect the commerce of nations; that 1t cost more owing to poor roads to get products from the farm to the rail- roads than it does to send the same across the ocean.
 The following resolutions were pre- Sented and adopted:
 That a committee of five be ap- pointed to draft memorial to the legislature to pass an act authorizing the state penitentiary board to reserve for use on public roads 100 convicts. to be supplied to counties upon appli- cation of the county judge and county road commissioner.
 That each county judge appoint man in each township to call together the citizens of his resepectiye town ships for the purpose of effecting the permanent organization of good roads club.
 That the legislature be asked to pass a bill placing the value of the labor on the public roads at $1 per day instead of 75 cents, as it now stands.
 That a prize of s100, to be raised by private subscription, be offered to any boy or girl under 12 years of age for the best essay on the subject, How Much Tax Does the Farmer Pay for Bad Roads?" The superintendent of tie experimental station Is to be the judge and the award of the prize is to be placed in his hands.
 A resolution, opposing the proposed bill, abolishing the office of road com missioner in this state, was adopted.
 A permanent organization was per fected. the name to be the Arkansas Good Roads Association, and the fol- lowing officers elected: President, Hon. Minor Wallace; vice-presidents. first, o. N. Killough; second, J. B. Chapline; third, William A. Faulkner: fourth, R. E. Cole; fifth. s. Geister: sixth, F. A. Rogers; seventh, J. 8, Ha u,lx;r.. eocrotorv CoorUa R RrowA