The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1903-03-26
GOOD ROADS MEETING
Gov. Cummins Calls Convention to
Meet in Des Moines.

| OShdlOOSd anu MdndSkd county VIII
doubtless be represented in the state
coed roads convention that has been
called by Governor Cummins to meet
in Des Moines April Is to select fifty
| five delegates to the international and
national good roads convention that is
to be held in st. Louis April 81 to May
2. The residents of Oskaloosa and
Mahaska county who are interested in
ne proposition for good roads win
read with interest the proclamation
just issued by Governor Cummins.
The Proclamation.
Beginning on April q and ending
May 2, 1903, there will be held in the
city OF st. Louis, Mo-. an international
and national good road convention.
This convention not only concerns one
OF the most important subjects before
the American people, but will be Of I'M
usual interest because of the high at
tainments and great reputation of the
men who will be present to lead the
discussions.
The international character Of the
convention is manifest when it is sug-
gested that the Hon. John Hay, secre-
tary of state, has issued $500 invita-
tions, requesting foreign governments
to send their leading engineers and
road builders to America, in order that
we may become acquainted with the
successful methods adopted by all the
older countries in constructing and
maintaining highways.
| The national character of the con-
vention will be equally distinguished,
for there will be present leading
statesmen, scientific engineers and
railroad officials, who have given the
subject the most mature confederation.
have been informed that low rates
Of railroad fare will be granted by all
the roads for the occasion, which will
make it possible to attend the conyen-
| ton without large expense.
have been requested by the Nation
al Good Roads association, under
whose auspices the international and
national convention has been called,
to appoint five delegates from each
congressional district of the state of
Iowa to represent this state in the
convention at st. Louis. l have con-
sidered the matter carefully and be-
| lieve that the subjects of good roads is
of such vital in terest to the people of
the state of Iowa that these delegates
should have their hands strengthened
and their enthusiasm quickened by
something more than an appointment
| by the executive. There can be no
| inquiry which will lead to more fruit
full results in an agricultural state
| like ours than the inquiry respecting
the best way to construct and main
tain highways over which traffic may
be economically carried and maintain
ed efficiently throughout the entire
year. 1t has seemed to me therefore,
| that the delegates of the international
and national convention, to which /
have referred, should be chosen by
state convention, which can be organ
lied so as to cooperate with the inter
national and national convention and
thus carry forward and perpetuate the
plans which may be adopted.
Moved by these considerations, !,
Albert B. Cummins, governor of the
state of Iowa, do hereby call state
convention to deliberate upon the sub
ject of good roads and to nominate
ffty-five delegates to the international
convention to be held in st. Louis, Mo-,
beginning April q and ending May
2, 1908, and l earnestly request the
board of supervisors in each Of the
counties of Iowa to appoint five dele
gates; each mayor of cities and towns
three delegates, and each organiza-
ton that has for it's object either the
promotion of good roads or general,
civic, commercial or industrial well
fare, one delegate.
l further request all the delegates
so appointed to meet in Des Moines
on the fifteenth day of April, 1908, at
10 o'clock a. m, to organize them
selves into a state convention having
in view the aforesaid business.
With the assistance of those who
have given much thought to the mat
ter, | will endeavor to arrange for the
presence of distinguished gentlemen
from other states who will deliver adj
dresses upon the subject and who will
aid in making the occasion not only
one of great interest, but OF great