The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-04-29
TIME TO BUILD ROADS.
Gen. Miles Advocates a Govern
ment Appropriation.

ST. Louis. April 29.-The second days
session of the national and international
good roads convention opened with a
better attendance. Rev. w. Banks Rog-
ers, S. j., president of st. Louis univer-
sity, delivered the invocation.
President Moore then introduced Gen.
Nelson A Miles. g. S. A, and president
of the national highway commission,
who made the principal address of the
forenoon.
Gen. Miles was received with great
enthusiasm by the delegates. He spoke
on the subject, Military Roads and 2
National Highway" and said. in part:
Il know of no one element OF civiliza-
ton in my country that has been more
neglected and that is suspectibIe Of be
slowing greater blessing upon our
people than the improvement of our
lines Of communication and avenues OF
internal commerce
Our government has expended five
hundred million Of dollars for the i'm
proVement of our harbOrs and water
ways and the attention Of the public is
being called to our postal roads and aV-
enues or communication that are most
useful and important to all our peo-
pie.
IF such expenditures of the national
treasure have been made in the past
for the development of railways and
waterways, is it not now a most appro-
~ AeelC Lllle lndl the Improvement OF
our roads should receive national atten-
ton and governmental aid.
The property of the people. the
wealth of the nation comes from the
ground. The factory and foundry N
crease and utilize the products OF the
soil and mine; agriculture is our prin-
cipal industry so the great mass of our
rural people are our main dependence:
their patriotism, their public spirit. their
welfare must ever be the salvation and
measure whether by the national gov
eminent the state, county or municipal
authorities that can promote the well
fare of the people should not be with
held, but should be most earnestly ad-
vocated and most generously bestowed.
Any roads that can be useful for in
dustiial and peaceful pursuits can be
utilized for military purposes. We are
not an empire or a military despOtism.
and therefore are not deVising means
for purely military purposes"
H r. Jesse, president of the Univer-
sity of Missouri. spoke on The Relation
of Roads and Schools" He was fol-
lowed by former Governor J. r. Hogg,
of Texas who made an impromptu
speech on the subject before the con-
Vention.
The resolutions also favored increased
appropriations for the road division of
the agricultural department and the
appointment of committee of one
IEOIn edCH state 70 appear pelOTe con-
Eress for the purpose of securing ma
tional aid in road building. Charles ?.
Lane. Of Huntsville. Ala, who came
before the convention in behalf of the
BrOwnloW bill introduced al the last
session of congress, seconded the reso-
lutions in a strong address.
At the last moment a telegram of re-
g~et was received from Andrew Pat
tullo, member of Canadian parliament
and president of the Canadian good
reads association. who was to have
spoken on THE Highways of Canada
The telegram stated that important
legislation before the house of parlia-
ment required his attention there.