The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-18
r. w. Richardson, Secretary of
the National Association,
Delivers an Address Before the
Transmississippi Congress.
FOURTEENTH ANNUAL
Session Begins in Seattle Most
AuspiciOusly.
Delegates From Every State
and Territory of the West.

seattle, WASH, aug. lS.-IHt loul
teenth annual session of the Trans
Mississippi Commercial congress, which
convened in this city this morning,
started out under the most favorable
auspices and promises to be one of the
most notable gatherings in the history
OF the organizatio The attendance is
unusually large, there being delegates
in attendance from every state and ter
ritory in the trans Mississippi, Alaskan
and the Hawaiian regions. Delegates
are present from Colorado Oregon,
Texas and Louisiana. The morning
session of the congress today was spent
in perfecting the organization and in
the delivery of addresses of welcome
and responses thereto. These included
welcoming addresses by Governor
Henry Mcbride for the state, Mayor
Thomas J. Humes for the city, and
Judge Thomas Burke for the CONNER
cial organizations of the northwest.
Two important addresses were deliv-
cred this afternoon and the remainder
of the session was devoted to the con-
sideration of the report OF the commit
tee on the advisability of merging the
congress with the National Irrigation
congress.
The addresses scheduled for this af-
ternoon were immigration and it's Dis
tribution.' by Thomas Richardson, of
New Orleans, and Good Roads, by r.
w. Richardson, secretary of the Ma
tional Good Roads associat tion.
Mr.. r. w. Richardson in his address
said:
1t is a matter of congratulation that
this congress has given prominence TO
the subject Of the Improvement of the
public roads The question first recos-
nized by this body at its session in Salt
Lake City in 1897, and at St. Paul last
year resolutions were adopted without
discussions, recommending modern road
legislation for the several states. 1t re-
manned for this session to give merited
recognition to this important question
and assign a place upon its programme
for presentation and discussion.
, 1t is difficult to explain the indiffer-
.-nce Of commercial interests to the abur-
. dens and inCumbrances upon trade and
commerce imposed by unimproVed
roads. If conscious of this barrier they
are oblivious to their responsibility and
regardless of the remedy, enduring the
burdensome condition as fixed habit.
From long established CUSTOM the pub
lie roads are left to the control and
management of the rural districts, the
towns and cities refusing to share the
cost of their proper Improvement al
though equally participating in the ben
efits therefrom. The system under which
the public roads are managed is anti
quated inadequate, and Wasteful, each
Ntdi repeating lle experience OF the one
before by the expenditure of labor ani
money, with no permanent good accom-
plished. The sum of money practically
wasted in the attempt, under the present
system. to maintain passable roads
would be an alarming proposition in any
other business of such proportion, public
OF private, and would call the most
radical and prompt reform. The 1850
counties contained in the transmississip
pi country eXpend each year, in money
Ia ms at value
the sum of $21. 900, a sum one and a
third times greater than the entire cost
of the louisiana Purchase territory and
more than one dollar per capita for ev-
cry man. woman and child in this vast
domain. This sum comes each year from
the agricultural classes and is practi-
caly wasted. for. with few exceptions,
there is not good permanent highway
In the entire country west of the Mis-
eissippi river. Besides the loss of this
money, we endure through the alterna5-
ing seasons of the year, impossible mud,
insufferable dust long hills and hollows.
bad grades. rocks. ruts sidings, loss of
time, wear and tear of body. mind.
clothes. stock vehicles, harness, etc.
This loss is insignificant. however, when
compared with that laid upon the in
dustries of the county by reason of
these road conditions. More than 95 per
cent Of all the traffic carried by rail-
roads, steamships, and other common
carriers. is first carted over a primary
road Figuring the cost of transport
ing the products of the transmississippi
condition. and comparing sa me with the
cost over improved roads, they are tax
ing the commercial and agricultural in
feTests more than three hundred and
fifty million dollars annually. This esti-
mate is based solely upon the cost of
TRANSFORMATION under average favorable
conditions. and does not comprehend the
loss to railroads from congested and sus-
4I,afr. r,l
Idle rendering it impossible to move
the products and merchandise to and
from their stations. These periods fol-
lowed by a rush of business that taxes
their capacity beyond their limits. con-
gesting the markets and creating unsat-
lsfactory business conditions. The retail
merchant is seriously affected. bad roads
frequently entailing loss upon his busi-
ness or at least preventing a profitable
seasons trade. When the country mer-
chant is affected ii in turn extends to
the wholesale dealer: collections become
poor. remittances delayed. extensions
asked for, stock left on hand to become
shelf-worn, and general unhealthy and
proft-losing situation results.
During the past winter and spring
the movements of grain, the delivery OF
freight and oils. and in fact all wagon
transportation was practically suspend
ed in many sections of the Mississippi
valley. These losses cannot be calcu-
lated in money, as they are indirect and
do not apDear on the surface but the
mind. lending itself to the consideration
Of economic conditions must cOmpre-
hend that our commerce is heavy
laden by reason of bad roads and the
lack of good ones.
"The question OF building permanent
highways is of the very highest COM
mercial Importance and demands the
active attention Of all business men.
The practice so long in use of placing
the burden of road making upon the
country people is unjust and inequit-