Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-16
Necessity OF GOOD ROADS
Iowa Convention Addressed BY Representa-
tives Of General Government
STATE AID PLAN is ONE RECOMMENDED
SIX Companies Only Of the National
Guard Are to Make the Trip to
81. LOuIs-Odd Fellows 60
Have big Time.
trrom a star Correspondent

(from STAN COrresponuentJ
DEs MONIES April 15.-(speoial.) THE
first state good roads convention was held
here today, about $50 persons being pres
ent, representing nearly every part OF the
state. The convention was called by Gov
ernor Cummins, who had been asked to
name delegates to a national good roads
convention to be held the latter part Of
the month In st. Louis. He chose rather
to call a state convention and have that
convention name the delegates. The at
tendance was good. Representatives were
here from counties and cities and from
commercial bodies OF all kinds.
The meeting was called to order by d. B.
Lyons, president OF the local commercial
exchange. Words OF welcome were spoken
by Mayor Brenton and Governor Cum
minis, and the latter briefly outlined his
views In regard to the pressing necessity
for good roads legislation In the state OF
Iowa. There was present representatives
Of the National Good Roads association
and OF the once OF good roads inquiry for
the Department Of Agriculture at Wash
ington. and they were here to urge that
some action be taken to further the cause
Of good roads. They desired to have the
people OF Iowa indofse the general move
ment, and especially to recommend the
BrOwnlow bill. which purposes the appro-
priation of S20.Oo0,OOO from the national
treasury for good roads.
r. w. Richardson, formerly of Ne
braska, representing the Department
Of Agriculture, was the principal
speaker for the afternoon. He
spoke OF the work that has been done
in the various states in regard to good
roads and especially urged that the state
aid plan, In use in the most progressive
eastern states, be adopted. This plan is
in force in a number Of states and is not
an experiment at all. The state makes a
direct appropriation for the road building
and there is a state engineer or highway
commission or other designated body which
supervises the work. The cost is appor-
toned usually half or third to the state,
and generally about 10 per cent to the
owners Of abutting property and S5 per cent
to the county. New York state pays half
of the expense of these roads. The sys-
tenn has been in use in that state about
ten years with excellent results. In Mas
sachuchetts, where they have a similar sys-
tenn. they are getting splendid results in
all parts OF the state 1t Is being used In
Connecticut. New Jersey and has just been
, adopted in New Hampshire.
Others who addressed the convention
were James @. Berryhill, Des Moines;
Colonel Killebrew, Nashville. Tenn; and
| Judge McVey of this city. w. w. Loomis,
| secretary Of the Commercial club Of Coun-
| ell Bluffs, was made secretary.
Conferences of Supertntendents.
The conference Of county superinten-
dents for this section OF the state was
concluded today. The topics discussed to-
! day related largely to manual and indus
| trial training N the schools. especially in
the rural schools and expositions Of in
| dustrial work. The subject Of giving in
struction IN industrial training in the nor
| NAL institutes was also discussed briefly.
! Superintendent Thornburg gave an ex-
haustive report on the work Of the reading
| circles. the teachers reading circle and
the pupils reading circle, showing that
a great deal Of good is being accomplished
in this way. Secretary Conaway OF the
! Iowa commission on st. Louis exposition
presented the topic OF Iowa's part in that
! exposition and especially the educational
| exhibit There was also discussion on the
| amount of money levied for teachers fund
this year as compared with previous years.
| and In general the results of the cam
| paign for better wages inaugurated last
| winter by the state teachers association.
The reports generally indicated that there
has been some advance along the line and
better wages are to be had in the future.
A letter was read from ex-Superintendent
sabin advocating the Pennsylvania system
OF a minimum wage for teachers in the
| schools. Superintendent Barrett gave facts
regarding the increase in number Of teach
ers In Iowa and the general advance of
school work In many decades.
Odd Fellows from Atlantic, Madrid. Stu
| art, Perry and other nearby cities will
join with Des Molnes on April "a in cele-
brating their eighty-fourth anniversary
There will be a grand street parade by
| lodges. cantons and encampments, prize
drills, and complications Of degrees in
| lodge halls. II is to be the greatest day
| of the year with the Odd Fellows and 1t is
! expected that a large number OF them will
be in the city. Last year they did not OBJ
serve the annual anniversary day here be-
cause OF the national meeting which came
In the fall. The preparations this year are
however, quite elaborate.
Iowa Doctors Hold Meeting.