Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1903-01-16
WORKING HARD
FOR GOOD ROADS.
An international Conference Will
be Held in Detroit February
18th and 18th.
AMERICAN ROAD MAKERS TIC MEET
Representatives from Mexico, Canada
and Every State In Union Will be
Present.

subject OF g0Od fOOub VIII DC neiu III
connection with the annual meeting OF
the American Road Makers, called by
the President, State Senator Horatio 5.
Earle, OF Detroit, TO meet in that city on
February 18th and 18th. Representa-
tives from several Mexican states, the
Provinces OF Canada and every state in
the Union. will be present.
The general topics for discussion will
be: First, the proposed plan for inter
capital connecting improved highways
An the United States, Canada, and
Mexico 10 be constructed and maintained
by the CO. operation of the federal, state,
county, aud township governments,
and: second, the bill which is now be
fore Congress, introduced by MIR. Brown
low, OF Tennessee. providing for the
creation OF a bureau in the Department
OF Agriculture, involving an appropria
ton Of $50, 10000 for the purpose Of
co operation with the various states,
counties, and townships. throughout
the Union in the construction and
maintenance OF public highways
In view OF the great importance and
magnitude OF the subject, 1t has been
Thought advisable by the executive
committee OF the American Road
Makers to assemble an international
conference OF public officials and pre-
minent good road advocates. To this
end, Pr sident Roosevelt who has ex
pressed hearty sympathy for this needed
reform, has been invited TO be the guest
Of the Read Makers on that occasion
and 80 deliver the principal address
The members OF both Houses Of Congress,
the Governors OF all the states and terri.
tories, and Canadian and Mexican
officials, have been invited to be present.
Governor Bliss and both Houses of the
Michigan State Legislature have already
accepted invitations 10 be present on
that occasion. and special train will
be Iun from Lansing TO Detroit to per.
NIT of their attendance and partiripa-
tion in this important conference.
Besides the various state and county
good roads organizations, of which
there are large number at work
throughout the country, automobile
club associations. and similar organiza-
tions will be invited 20 send delegates
TO this conference. The New York and
Chicago Road Association. The Con-
necticut Valley Highway Association,
The Automobile Club Of America, have
already signifed their intention OF
being represented.
The American Road Makers is the
only good roads organization with paid
membership and an object. According
TO the constitution, its membership is
limited to $50 members, ten for each
state. The object Of thus distributing
the membership over the country is to
prevent any one section dominating the
other. The aim is 10 have the ten mem
beers in each state the most influential
road Enthusiasts, men of means and In
fuence, that can be found. But it is
proposed at the begin ming OF the new
fiscal year to open the way for state or.
CARNATIONS with unlimited membership,
which will lie auxiliary TO the national
organization, but will have no voice in
its proceedings except as represented by
the ten state members. California has
not only filled its quota in the national
organization. but has also organized q
state auxiliary and has already secured
several hundred members That state
enjoys the unique position Of having as
its director, a woman, Miss Annie 3.
Pitcher. She has associated with her IN
the work two other women, and Cali
fornia is the only state in the organiza.
ton which has thus far elected women
to its membership Miss Pitcher pro.
poses to introduce an amendment to the
constitution at the annual session
which will open the door for Mexico
and permit of her cooperation in ex
tending the inter-capital-conuectinl
highway scheme throughout thai
Country. IL 10 OolioNou W tuOoo WIN
In the organization that the scope o.
this amendment will be enlarged so al
to include Canada as well.
One OF the results Of this internatioua
good roads conference held at Detroit
will undoubtedly be the Inauguration o
aplan to secure the appointment Of a fed
eral commission, into whose hands will
be committed the stupendous task o
selecting the routes for the inter capital
connecting highways, and another,
we'll organized effort TO secure the co
operation of every good roads advocate
ia every congressional district in tn,
country, who will lombard the variou
members of congress with letters ant
petitions favoring the creation OF
bureau of roads as provided for by thu
Brownlow bill.